Changning attracts global giants with enhanced headquarters ecosystem

Swiss industrial giant ABB Group announced the completion of its acquisition of Siemens' switch socket business in China early this month. The newly established Shanghai ABB Electrical Technology Co Ltd has set up operations in Changning District, signaling increased investment in China's smart building market.

At the end of last year, International Flavors &Fragrances Inc (IFF), a Fortune 500 company, inaugurated its Shanghai innovation center in Changning with an investment of nearly 100 million yuan (US$13.77 million). This facility now stands as IFF's largest innovation and RD hub in Asia.

The establishment of this regional RD& headquarters was facilitated by Changning District's sustained support for IFF's subsidiary, Danisco (China) Investment Co Ltd.

In recent years, Changning District has actively implemented its Headquarters Enhancement Initiative and maintained its long-standing Three-Tier, Three-System enterprise service mechanism. To date, the district is home to 89 multinational regional headquarters and RD centers.&

As the largest flavors and fragrances company in the United States, IFF chose Changning for its flagship Asian innovation center, citing Shanghai's strengths in attracting top-tier talent, favorable investment policies, and the logistical advantages offered by the Hongqiao International Open Hub for partner collaborations.

Spanning 16,000 square meters, the IFF Shanghai Innovation Center features open-plan workspaces, sensory science labs, fragrance innovation studios, and state-of-the-art laboratories for creation, design, and product analysis. This facility will bolster IFF's RD ca&pabilities in biotechnology, nutrition and health, consumer goods, perfumery, and food flavorings.

In the past year, Changning District attracted US$481 million in actual utilized foreign investment, marking a 6.7 percent year-on-year increase and ranking third in growth rate citywide.