Executives from major multinational corporations have commended Shanghai’s advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing role as a global innovation hub. Their remarks were made in the context of Shanghai’s expanding AI industry and the municipal government’s strategic efforts to position the city as a center for future-oriented technologies.
Bjoern Gulden, CEO of Adidas AG, highlighted the significance of the city to the company’s global expansion plans. Adidas employs a team of 160 designers in Shanghai, which operates with considerable autonomy in design and product development. Gulden noted that having a local team reduces development time and allows for rapid response to evolving consumer demands. He emphasized that Shanghai’s status as an international hub for talent, universities, and high-consumption activities enhances its importance, adding that Adidas plans to integrate local consumption data with AI and cutting-edge technologies to optimize manufacturing and develop new materials.
Similarly, Morten Wierod, CEO of multinational manufacturing firm ABB, praised Shanghai's comprehensive AI ecosystem that includes computing power, models, and applications. He expressed confidence that the city’s ongoing efforts in digital and AI innovation will drive its transformation into a “city of the future.” Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens AG, noted Shanghai’s advantages in deploying AI technologies within innovative industrial service scenarios, underlining the city’s leading position in this domain.
Shanghai’s municipal government has recognized AI as one of three key industries, alongside integrated circuits and biomedicine, since 2020. These sectors have demonstrated robust growth; for example, the combined manufacturing output value of the three industries increased by 14.5 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026. AI manufacturing output alone grew by 21.8 percent during this period. Additionally, 1,945 AI invention patents were granted in the first six months of the year, representing a 64.79 percent increase compared to the previous year.
To foster continued growth, Shanghai announced in September 2024 the launch of a government-backed fund worth 10 billion yuan (approximately $1.5 billion). This fund aims to support the development of six future-oriented industries: manufacturing, information technology, materials, energy, space, and healthcare. These sectors are integral components of Shanghai’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), reflecting the city’s broader strategy to build a modern industrial framework.
John Waldron, president and chief operating officer of Goldman Sachs, emphasized the importance of attracting top global talent to sustain Shanghai’s innovation and growth. He suggested that the city should invest further in improving the convenience and quality of life for residents to maintain this momentum.
Together, these perspectives illustrate Shanghai’s strategic advancement in AI and related technologies, supported by government initiatives and bolstered by multinational corporations leveraging the city’s resources and ecosystem.