Innovation on show in Shanghai 2026-11-06    ZHENG YIRAN

Visitors seen at the booth of Elekta during the CIIE in Shanghai.

From more precise cancer treatment to smarter manufacturing and new consumer technologies, innovation is increasingly moving from laboratories into everyday life. At the 9th China International Import Expo, multinational companies are showcasing how new quality productive forces can translate into practical applications and tangible benefits.

The expo, which opened in Shanghai on Thursday, brings together 4,142 overseas exhibitors, including more than 2,000 first-time exhibitors. Its Innovation Incubation Special Section showcases 633 science and technology projects, nearly 20 percent more than last year, and almost 50 product debuts, including 17 global premieres.

For Swedish medical technology company Elekta, innovation is measured by its ability to improve patient care. Jakob Just-Bomholt, president and CEO, said China had become one of the company's most dynamic markets, with growing clinical needs and an increasingly developed innovation ecosystem.

At this year's expo, Elekta is showcasing a multimodal adaptive radiotherapy ecosystem and its local manufacturing capabilities. Having participated in all nine editions of the CIIE, the company continues connecting Chinese innovation, manufacturing and clinical experience, Just-Bomholt said.

In the beauty sector, Shiseido is demonstrating how research can be developed and tested in China. Toshinobu Umetsu, CEO of Shiseido China and Travel Retail Region, said the company is moving beyond bringing global innovations to China toward co-creating products and technologies with local partners.

For Merck, connecting research with industrial application is central to its China strategy. Rogier Janssens, president of Merck China, said the country's innovation ecosystem increasingly links research institutions, suppliers, customers and manufacturing capabilities.

Merck's facilities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other Chinese cities help bridge the gap between early-stage discoveries and industrial-scale production. Its operations in Shanghai as well as Wuxi and Nantong in Jiangsu province support biopharmaceutical process development, single-use technologies and high-purity reagents.

Manufacturing is another area where technology is changing production. Anna An, president of Henkel Greater China, said the company continues to invest in innovation across its adhesive technologies and Consumer Brands businesses.

In early 2024, Henkel opened its Consumer Brands Asia R&D Center, investing about 100 million yuan ($15 million).

In healthcare, Bayer is connecting global innovation with China's clinical needs and local manufacturing. Zhou Xiaolan, president of Bayer China, said the company hoped to bring more innovative medicines to Chinese patients while helping Chinese innovation reach international markets. The CIIE provides a platform for linking global research with local healthcare needs, Zhou said.

For Zeiss, the expo offers an opportunity to respond to China's changing market. Martin Fischer, president and CEO of Zeiss Greater China, said: "For Zeiss, innovation creates value when it solves a real problem. This is why we focus not only on technological breakthroughs, but on how precision technologies, reliable data and domain expertise can improve real processes and outcomes."

Sony is also bringing technology closer to everyday life. Takeshi Yoshida, president of Sony China, said the company was showcasing 12 premieres at the CIIE, including glasses-free 3D, immersive haptic entertainment and in-car safety technologies.