International firms cite China as emerging hub for industrial innovation
Business leaders at a roundtable in Tianjin discussed China's shifting role from a global marketplace to a center for research and industrial application.
Executives and economists gathered in Tianjin on Friday to assess China's evolving position in the global economy, identifying a clear trend toward the country becoming a source of high-tech innovation. The discussion focused on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, which aims to become a significant driver of industrial growth through regional integration and international collaboration.
Claus Zieler, chief commercial and medical affairs officer at Astellas, highlighted the company’s recent inauguration of an R&D center in China, noting that the country is transitioning from a traditional market into a hub for research. Similarly, Gianni Di Giovanni, chairman of Eni China, suggested that China’s primary competitive advantage lies in its capacity to transform scientific discoveries into industrial applications, connecting engineering, manufacturing, and market demand.
Data from the Ministry of Commerce supports this shift, showing a 33.8 percent year-on-year increase in foreign investment inflows into high-tech industries during the first nine months of 2026. This trend occurs as authorities work to improve the business environment to counter global economic headwinds and geopolitical pressures.
The broader objective for the region is to establish an international center for technological innovation by 2030. Experts suggest that by bridging the gap between research institutions and industrial sectors, China is positioning itself to play a key role in the next phase of the global 15th Five-Year Plan.