The AGV logistics system of Hunan Central South Intelligent Equipment based in Changsha.

Shenzhen Megmeet Electrical's global research and development center in Changsha.

Changsha is emerging as a magnet for enterprises and talents, driven by its industrial ecosystem and favorable environment.

With the combined investment of 600 million yuan ($84.87 million), the global research and development center of Shenzhen Megmeet Electrical started operations in Changsha in February 2024. Headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the company has expanded its presence to more than 30 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany and Thailand.

Its revenue achieved a compound annual growth rate of 30 percent from 2013 to 2025 and the proportion of R&D investment to total sales has remained above 10 percent for many years.

Featuring 1,200 researchers and more than 20 professional labs, the R&D center aims to become a global leader in software development and testing for power electronics components and systems, and contribute to regional growth.

"What attracts us is the city's industrial ecosystem, large talent pool and forward-looking development strategy," said Fang Wanglin, director of the center.

Changsha is home to numerous Chinese engineering machinery giants including Sany Group and Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science& Technology, both of which have formed close partnership with Megmeet.

"The geographical proximity allows us to strengthen communication with our customers and provide tailored solutions for them.

"The center also synergizes with our global manufacturing base in Hunan's Zhuzhou city to better bolster our global operations," he said.

The company is now advancing the center's second and third-phase construction and expanding its business chain, in order to achieve "R&D in Changsha, manufacturing in Hunan and application around the world", according to Fang.

Enterprises and talents are the cornerstone of Changsha's innovation chain, and act as an advantage for the city to build a global R&D center, local officials said.

The city government has released a series of preferential policies to attract university graduates, motivate young entrepreneurs and boost enterprises' innovation.

Hunan University has collaborated with many local companies including Hunan Central South Intelligent Equipment, or ZEQP, to build the National Engineering Research Center of Robot Visual Perception and Control Technology.

"We work with the center on key projects and offer students from Hunan University internship programs to cultivate more professional talents for the industry," said Zhu Libo, deputy general manager of Changsha Changtai Robotics, a subsidiary of ZEQP.

Among the students is Guo Dongni from Jilin province, who started an internship in 2018 when studying for her master's degree in control engineering.

During the two-year internship, Guo participated in an intelligent upgrading project of cement bag loaders. Guided by professors and engineers of the company, she spent much time in cement workshops testing equipment and made remarkable progress.

"I acquired a deep understanding over those two years: R&D can't be conducted 'behind closed doors'," she said in an interview with Changsha Daily. Only by staying on the front line, can researchers identify pain points of the industry and tackle them, she added.

Guo chose to join the company after graduation and now she serves as deputy chief engineer of the company's high-end equipment division. In September, the 30-year-old was recognized by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions as a national master artisan.

The city has recorded a net population inflow of 1 million people over the past decade, 80 percent of whom are young people.

Changsha is open and inclusive, giving young people a stage to chase their dreams, while they can gain infinite motivation from its dynamic industrial ecosystem, Guo said.

"I look forward to growing together with the company and the city as well," she said.

zhanglinwan@chinadaily.com.cn