Agilent Technologies, a U.S.-based company specializing in analytical and clinical laboratory technology, plans to expand its manufacturing and research capabilities in China over the next two to three years. Jonah Kirkwood, senior vice president and chief commercial officer at Agilent, highlighted China’s growing importance as both a key market and an integral part of the company’s global supply chain and innovation network.
China’s skilled workforce, extensive supply chains, and willingness to adopt new technologies have reinforced Agilent’s commitment to the market. The Chinese segment delivered 9 percent year-on-year core revenue growth in the quarter ending July 31, with particularly strong double-digit gains in the pharmaceutical and food sectors.
Kirkwood emphasized the need for a more stable China-U.S. bilateral relationship to enhance long-term collaborations. He called for sustained dialogue aimed at creating a transparent and predictable business environment, with greater policy certainty and smoother movement of people and goods. Such conditions, he said, would enable companies and researchers from both countries to work together on shared challenges and make long-term investment decisions with greater confidence.
Agilent’s cooperation with Chinese partners involves a two-way exchange, with global technologies addressing domestic customer needs, while insights from Chinese clients help shape international product development. Kirkwood noted that Chinese customers increasingly influence the company’s research focus, providing valuable feedback that drives innovations used worldwide.
A significant area of collaboration is integrating artificial intelligence into laboratory processes, including experimental design, data analysis, and routine operations, beyond mere instrumentation purchases. Kirkwood described China's rapid ability to test, iterate, and scale new technologies as a window into the future of laboratory development.
An example of Agilent’s collaborative efforts is its partnership with the Chinese technology firm Purspec. Together, they combined Purspec’s lipidomics hardware, software, and databases with Agilent’s chromatography and mass spectrometry platforms to develop advanced tools for studying lipid structures. Kirkwood highlighted the role of Chinese researchers in contributing original technologies and emerging scientific insights, complemented by Agilent’s instrumentation and access to international markets.
Looking ahead, Kirkwood identified promising opportunities for deeper China-U.S. cooperation in fields such as life sciences and biopharmaceuticals, food and environmental safety, green energy, and laboratory digitalization. He stressed that lasting collaboration often begins by addressing specific scientific or technological challenges and requires ongoing investment in open innovation, local capabilities, and building trust among customers, suppliers, research institutions, and industry partners.
Agilent’s planned expansion in China reflects a broader industry trend toward more integrated global research and manufacturing networks, underscoring the strategic role China plays in the company’s future growth and innovation efforts.