Governor Patrick Announces New Technology Center for Mass Companies in China
Governor Deval Patrick attended the official opening of the Massachusetts Technology Center at the Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, encouraging innovation and collaboration between businesses in Massachusetts and China.
"Creating resources like these is exactly why we came to China," said Governor Patrick. "This technology center will help strengthen connections between companies in the Commonwealth and in Shanghai and beyond."
The center is open to any business in Massachusetts for exhibiting and marketing products to Chinese companies. As economic opportunities in China continue to grow, more companies in Massachusetts and China have asked for guidance on how to do business with their counterparts overseas.
In response to those requests, the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment (MOITI), which is coordinated by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, helped create the center in partnership with the Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park.
The center offers Massachusetts companies sales office support, space to start trial operations in China, and promotion of Massachusetts education and certification to Chinese students and workers. Massachusetts-based companies such as Novartis, Rohm & Haas, and Biogen Idec were on display at the center opening. Roughly 4,600 companies focused on the life sciences, clean energy, IT, and software industries are registered with the Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park.
"The life science and clean energy marketplaces are a worldwide opportunity," said Dan O’Connell, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. "This center will be an additional tool for Massachusetts companies to service and open up new markets in China, the fastest growing economy in the world."
Representatives from MOITI signed a Letter of Intent with Zhangjang Hi-Tech Park in October to enhance trade and exchanges between these two regions and to increase brand awareness of Massachusetts. In October, Zhangjiang High Tech Park’s CEO and other senior officials visited Massachusetts and met with Secretary O’Connell to finalize that agreement.
The Commonwealth’s trade mission to China aimed to strengthen innovation and collaboration around clean energy, life sciences, education, and transportation. This visit was the first in a series of steps Governor Patrick takes to strengthen the Massachusetts-China relationship.
The agenda included meetings in Beijing and Shanghai with Chinese companies and universities focused the Commonwealth’s interest in China’s academic, research and development, and commercial achievements.
