Emerging from humble beginnings, Zhangjiang Town stands as a testament to China’s technological prowess. Zhangjiang, once a quiet area in Pudong, transformed into a bustling hub. Established in 1992 as Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, it quickly earned the nickname “China’s Silicon Valley”. Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park evolved into Zhangjiang Science City. This expansion reflects its growing importance. The park originally spanned 17 square kilometers. Today, Zhangjiang Science City covers a vast 95 square kilometers. Plans are underway to further expand it to approximately 220 square kilometers.
Zhangjiang Science City houses a diverse range of industries. These include information technology, biomedicine, and integrated circuits. Over 18,000 enterprises call Zhangjiang home. This includes 53 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 828 high-tech enterprises. Giants like Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp and Huahong Group operate within Zhangjiang. The biomedical sector also thrives here, with over 400 companies. This includes pharmaceutical giants like Roche Group and Shanghai MicroPort Medical (Group).
Zhangjiang’s integrated circuit industry is particularly impressive. It boasts the most complete industrial chain in China. Its sales revenue reached a staggering 201.1 billion yuan in 2022. Six of the world’s top ten chip designers have established their presence in Zhangjiang. This underscores its importance in the global semiconductor landscape. The area also plays a crucial role in biomedicine. It houses a complete innovation chain for new drug development. This covers everything from research to mass production. Seven of the world’s top ten pharmaceutical companies have set up shop in Zhangjiang. This creates a dynamic ecosystem for biomedical innovation.
Zhangjiang Science City doesn’t just focus on industry. It also prioritizes research and development. It hosts an impressive 440 R&D institutions. These range from national to district levels. Key facilities include the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility and the National Center for Protein Science. The presence of universities like ShanghaiTech University further strengthens the focus on research and education. Zhangjiang’s success has attracted a skilled workforce. Currently, it employs around 370,000 people. Over 6,200 hold doctoral degrees, and more than 50,000 have master’s degrees. This concentration of talent fuels the continuous innovation in the area. Zhangjiang has transformed from a simple high-tech park to a dynamic science city. It stands as a symbol of China’s ambition in science and technology.