Shanghai Mayor Meets Thermo Fisher CEO; Firm Calls China Second-Largest Market, Plans More R&D

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng met with Marc Casper, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific, on August 19. Gong said Shanghai is advancing new industrialization, fostering new quality productive forces, and accelerating the development of a modern industrial system. Biopharmaceuticals is one of the city's three leading industries, and scientific instruments, as a key foundation for technological innovation, are vital to the growth of the biopharmaceutical sector. He expressed hope for deeper cooperation with Thermo Fisher, urging the company to expand its investment footprint in Shanghai, channel more premium resources, major projects, and functional platforms in scientific instruments and biopharmaceuticals into the city, integrate more deeply into Shanghai's biopharmaceutical ecosystem, and support local biopharmaceutical companies in going global.

Gong also encouraged Thermo Fisher to help Shanghai accelerate the building of an international science and technology innovation center and facilitate the local conversion of more global R&D resources and innovation outcomes. He said Shanghai will continue to foster a market-oriented, law-based, and international business environment to support the growth of all enterprises in the city.

Casper said every visit to Shanghai leaves him impressed by the city's vibrant business environment, outstanding talent pool, and sustained development capacity. China is Thermo Fisher's second-largest global market, and Shanghai is the company's home. Thermo Fisher has built a comprehensive platform in Shanghai integrating manufacturing, R&D, customer experience, supply chain, and regional operations.

Looking ahead, Casper said the company will further increase R&D investment in Shanghai, accelerate the expansion of its global business, and better support leading Shanghai biopharmaceutical companies in reaching international markets, benefiting patients in China and around the world. Thermo Fisher, the world's largest manufacturer of scientific instruments, has been a significant participant in Shanghai's life sciences and healthcare industry since establishing operations in the city more than 40 years ago.