Ying Yong (second left), mayor of Shanghai, takes part in a meeting with leaders of foreign-funded research institutions on Sept 6. [Photo/jfdaily.com]

Shanghai will increase its support for foreign-funded R&D centers to help them make an even greater contribution to scientific and technological innovation in the city, said Ying Yong, mayor of Shanghai, on Sept 6.

The remarks were made after his visit to some outstanding foreign-funded R&D centers in Shanghai, including the Dow Chemical Shanghai R&D Center and SAP Labs.

Leaders from the Shanghai government and the R&D centers sat down for a meeting after the conclusion of the visits, where they discussed how to enhance cooperation on scientific projects, foster an innovative workplace environment, and improve the city's talent attraction policies.

Ying expressed gratitude to the institutions for their contributions to Shanghai's economic and social development, and welcomed more foreign-funded enterprises and R&D centers to come and seek expansion in Shanghai.

Shanghai will work to create a better environment for foreign-funded institutions to grow and pursue innovation, helping them to lure more talented personnel, Ying claimed.

The mayor also called for breakthroughs in promoting cross-border flows and global allocation of innovative resources to help the city's foreign-funded R&D centers improve their competitiveness.

Ying also called for intellectual property rights to be strengthened, investment in scientific research to be increased, technology transfer and industrialization to be facilitated, and talent attraction policies to be optimized.

Ying Yong (right), mayor of Shanghai, talks to Jim McIlvenny (second left), president of Dow Chemical Asia Pacific and Greater China at the Dow Chemical Shanghai R&D Center on Sept 6. [Photo/jfdaily.com]