Industrial corporation Saint-Gobain - a world leader of abrasives manufacturing, is working with a science park in Shanghai to support innovation and establish cooperation in smart cities, energy saving, new materials and IoT (internet of things), as a result of its MoU recently signed with Shanghai Caohejing Hi-tech Park.

Saint-Gobain is among the world’s hundred leading industrial corporations. The company has been present in China since 1985, providing innovative materials and construction products. The cooperation between Caohejing (CHJ) and Saint-Gobain is an example for how multinational companies can work with local science parks on innovation and entrepreneurship.

At the recent signing of the MoU, the CEO of Saint-Gobain China Javier Gimeno accompanied by Haofeng Lai, general manager of the CHJ Innovation Center, visited the CHJ next-generation incubator, where he learned about the successful co-incubation programmes between CHJ Innovation Center and its partners, including leading incubators worldwide and multinational companies. Mr Gimeno also met with some of the startups based at the incubator, and shared his insights about how IoT technology could be incorporated into Saint-Gobain products.

The MoU establishes cooperation in smart city, energy saving, new materials and IoT solutions, as well as exploring the possibility of launching a CHJ-SG innovation center/accelerator programme.

Mr Gimeno commented, “Despite the fact that Saint-Gobain has been a traditional manufacturing enterprise, we always recognize innovation as one of the top values to keep ourselves competitive. With the MoU signed, we will closely work with CHJ to better support and grow together with all innovative start-ups in China.”

“Caohejing Hi-tech Park, a key location for technology innovation in Shanghai, committed itself to industrial upgrading and resource integration. The innovation focus of Saint-Gobain is in line with the pillar industries in Caohejing Hi-tech Park. Together with Saint-Gobain, we will enhance the innovative ecosystem in Shanghai,” said Mr. Haofeng Lai.

Approved by the Shanghai Municipal Government, Shanghai Caohejing Hi-tech Park Innovation Center was solely invested and run by Shanghai Caohejing Hi-tech Park Development Corporation. As a business incubator, the center has committed itself to cultivating and supporting technology-intensive enterprises and promoting commercialization, industrialization and internationalization of scientific and technological achievements.

The innovation center has been in operation for over 10 years and according to its web site, 434 technology-intensive enterprises specializing in areas like IT, biotechnology, new materials and opto-mechatronics have graduated from the center. It says the success rate amounts to 91.7 percent.