To continuously optimize the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and provide targeted services for technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, the investment and financing special event "Sci-Tech Returns to the City, Silicon Alley Sets Sail for the Future"—"Double Service Teams Support Dual Innovation" dedicated for Shanghai Silicon Alley was held on November 21 at the Huayang Road Subdistrict Party Service Center.

At the event, the Financing Division of Shanghai's New Social Stratum Sci-Tech Service Corps was officially launched in the Shanghai Silicon Alley Sci-Tech Block. The division will extensively connect resources from new social strata professionals, universities, industry associations, and financial institutions, aiming to address the financing challenges and bottlenecks faced by tech SMEs in their early development stages. It will establish a regular and precise platform for industry-finance integration, channeling a continuous flow of "financial vitality" into enterprise growth.

As a benchmark for Shanghai's efforts to deeply integrate urban renewal with sci-tech functions, the vigorous development of the Shanghai Silicon Alley Sci-Tech Block has attracted significant attention. Since its approval at the end of 2022, the block has evolved into an innovation hotspot covering a total area of approximately 1.48 square kilometers. It has not only gathered national-level scientific research capabilities and 11 key laboratories but has also witnessed an explosive growth in the number of technology-based enterprises—increasing from over 180 in 2021 to more than 930 currently. Additionally, it has nurtured 6 specialized "Little Giant" enterprises and 60 specialized SMEs. "Writing code under the plane trees, conducting research in historic districts, holding morning meetings in cafes, and discussing innovation amid the vibrancy of daily life" are becoming distinctive features of Shanghai Silicon Alley's innovative landscape.

During the thematic speech session, two entrepreneurs shared their journeys of rooting themselves in Shanghai and pursuing sci-tech innovation. The intelligent coffee equipment developed by Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology Co., Ltd. has been exported to 57 countries and regions, achieving a 50% global market share and becoming a microcosm of "Made Smart in China" going global. Shanghai Qionglong Technology Co., Ltd., focusing on space laser communication, expanded its team from 12 to 200 members within four years and participated in the construction of the world's first computing power constellation, demonstrating the core strength of private sci-tech enterprises in national strategic fields. Their stories vividly illustrate Shanghai's nurturing capacity and inclusiveness toward sci-tech enterprises, highlighting a favorable ecosystem of mutual commitment between the city and entrepreneurs.

In the financing roadshow session, seven high-quality sci-tech enterprises took the stage, spanning cutting-edge fields such as biomedicine, new energy, digital technology, and healthcare. Through project presentations and interactive Q&A sessions, these companies engaged in precise matchmaking with well-known institutions like CDH Investments, with professional evaluations and in-depth exchanges laying a solid foundation for cooperation.

In the future, the Shanghai Silicon Alley Sci-Tech Block will continue to optimize the business environment, gather innovation resources, and strengthen policy empowerment, enabling more sci-tech seeds to take root, sprout, and thrive here, injecting strong sci-tech momentum into Shanghai's high-quality development.

This event was jointly planned by the Shanghai New Social Stratum Association, the Changning District Zhixinhui, the Shanghai New Social Stratum Sci-Tech Service Corps, and the Professional Service Corps. With strong support from the Huayang Road Subdistrict, it focused on cultivating new quality productive forces, addressing the financing bottlenecks of tech SMEs, promoting the integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain, and injecting new vitality into the regional sci-tech ecosystem. Changning will also establish a service system for the youth innovation and entrepreneurship base in the Shanghai Multimedia Park, creating the "first stop for youth innovation and entrepreneurship."

The event was attended by Zhang Feng, deputy director of the Shanghai United Front Work Department; Wang Luoqing, member of the Standing Committee of the Changning District Party Committee and director of the District United Front Work Department; Chen Kai, president of the Shanghai Y50 Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Zhang Yi, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice chairman of the Changning District Committee of the CPPCC.