(Yicai) May 22 -- The innovation centers of Germany's Bayer, US' Pfizer, Japan's Sony Group, Denmark's Novo Nordisk, and France's BioMérieux have joined the Group Open Innovation initiative of Pudong District of Shanghai.

The research and development centers set up by the five multinational corporations in Pudong New Area were awarded certifications and designated as group open innovation centers at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Pudong New Area Science and Technology Festival on May 19.

Launched in 2021, the GOI plan integrates the resources of leading industry players to foster an innovation ecosystem where large companies spearhead advancements with small and medium-sized enterprises, creating synergies.

"We are honored by Bayer Co. Lab's designation as part of Pudong's GOI plan, which strongly endorses Bayer's longstanding commitment to fostering open innovation in China," said Friedemann Janus, senior vice president and global head of Bayer Co.Lab and regional business development & licensing and divestitures at Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

"As a bridge between China's innovation ecosystem and the global pharmaceutical industry, Bayer Co.Lab will harness the company's strength and expertise of Bayer as a global industry leader to deepen partnerships with local stakeholders, including government authorities, innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors," Janus noted. "Together, we aim to accelerate cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs while cultivating a thriving local innovation ecosystem in China."

Bayer opened its fourth Co.Lab globally and the first in China in Shanghai last September. The center has attracted several pioneering biotech firms, including AccurEdit Therapeutics, Epigenic Therapeutics, Immunocan Biotech, 20n Bio, and lncTAC, to its community.

The GOI initiative has attracted over 100 leading companies, empowered more than 6,000 SMEs, supported over 3,600 scientific and technological firms, and received investments of over CNY5.4 billion (USD750 million) across various sectors, including healthcare and artificial intelligence.

Pudong New Area will focus on expanding the GOI ecosystem, opening major scientific facilities, supporting youth entrepreneurship, and upgrading the science popularization system, the local government said. These efforts aim to continuously strengthen the "driving function of scientific innovation and high-end industry leadership function" to build the area into "a preferred destination for open innovation, a cradle of original innovation, and a leader in future industries," it added.

Editor: Martin Kadiev