SHANGHAI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Walking into the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech 895 Incubator in Shanghai, visitors can see entrepreneurs and engineers working behind glass windows, operating precision instruments to test chips.
For many innovators, this is just one step in a much longer journey from laboratory breakthroughs to commercially viable products.
At the 895 Incubator, a company can be registered with just a single workstation. The investor-friendly initiative has made the incubator a first stop for many micro and small-tech entrepreneurs.
The incubator offers a glimpse into how Shanghai is using innovation ecosystems to cultivate future industries. Rather than relying solely on individual breakthroughs, the city is building innovation ecosystems that connect research, technology validation, industrial resources and capital to help deep-tech companies grow.
For frontier technologies, scientific breakthroughs rarely translate directly into commercial success. Companies developing advanced chips, photonic computing and other emerging technologies often require years of engineering refinement and testing before products can reach the market. Long-term support is therefore essential.
The 895 Incubator was designed to address these challenges. Focusing on integrated circuits, silicon photonics, and artificial intelligence, it brings concept verification, entrepreneurship coaching, public technology platforms, and early-stage investment under one roof.
With an incubation area of 116,900 square meters, the facility has nurtured more than 180 high-tech enterprises and made early-stage venture capital investment of 800 million yuan (about 117.8 million U.S. dollars), said Yuan Quan, assistant general manager of Zhangjiang Haoxin, the operator of the 895 Incubator.
"Future industries require an ecosystem rather than simply office space. Young companies need technology validation, engineering support and industrial resources before their products can reach the market. We hope to shorten the journey from scientific discovery to industrial application," Yuan said.
One important part of that ecosystem is the Zhangjiang Chip Testing Public Service Platform, which allows startups to access professional testing without investing heavily in expensive equipment.
"Many startups have innovative technologies but lack access to professional testing facilities," Yuan said, adding that public platforms allow them to verify products more efficiently and accelerate the commercialization process.
With more than 130 million yuan in equipment investment, the platform supports products from AI processors to high-performance computing chips and offers qualified startups discounts of up to 50 percent on testing services.
Among the companies benefiting from the platform is LighteningAGI, a startup specializing in photonic computing chips.
"Building a tech startup requires comprehensive support," said Zhong Hansen, founder of LighteningAGI. "Shortly after the company was established, we moved into the 895 incubator, where we received one-stop services ranging from business registration and policy consultation to investment and financing matching."
Zhong recalled that he initially worked alone, renting a single desk in the incubator. The company has since secured angel investment and is accelerating the development and commercialization of its photonic computing chips. It is expected to move into a new office space of about 700 square meters in August.
"Shanghai's industrial concentration has given us a real competitive advantage," he said. "Within a few kilometers, we can find almost every resource needed along the industrial chain, which has significantly reduced coordination costs and helped speed up our development."
Across Zhangjiang Science City, similar ecosystem advantages are supporting companies at different stages of development.
Over the years, Shanghai has brought together universities, research institutes, semiconductor companies, public technology platforms and venture capital in Zhangjiang, creating an environment where technologies, talent and industrial resources can circulate efficiently.
For MetaX Integrated Circuits (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a domestic AI chip developer, the industrial ecosystem has helped accelerate innovation.
"Suppliers, customers and business partners are highly concentrated in Zhangjiang, allowing companies to efficiently access resources across the whole industrial chain and collaborate more closely," said Sun Guoliang, senior vice president of MetaX.
Sun added that Shanghai's policy support covers a company's entire life cycle, with tailored measures available at different stages, from startup incubation and business expansion to public listing and beyond.
"Innovation ecosystems become stronger when companies grow together. As we continue developing, we also hope to contribute technologies, industrial experience and collaboration opportunities that help more innovators succeed," Sun said.
According to the Shanghai municipal science and technology commission, the city has launched 19 high-quality incubators since June 2023, targeting frontier sectors including large AI models, humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces, synthetic biology, and cell and gene therapy.
The initiative aims to nurture tech startups and accelerate the translation of scientific advances into industrial applications, supporting Shanghai's ambition to become a global innovation hub.
Shanghai has continued to strengthen its innovation drive. More than 320 new tech firms were established on average each day last year, highlighting the city's growing momentum as a hub for scientific and technological development. ■
