Shanghai, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes deepen four decades of ties

Shanghai and France's Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region marked 40 years of ties by holding an economic dialogue in Shanghai on Oct 13.

The Shanghai–Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Economic Dialogue convened government representatives, researchers, and business leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities that ecological transition poses for industry and urban development.

Representatives from both sides presented their ecological transition policies, priority industries, investment environments, and support for international businesses.

The dialogue also included discussions on financing green projects, industrial transformation, and cooperation among businesses, universities, and research institutions to advance innovation and talent development.

Speaking at the dialogue, Philippe Meunier, vice-president of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, said the region has the largest industrial workforce in France and identified healthcare, new materials, and technological innovation as priority areas for deeper its cooperation with Shanghai.

During the visit to Shanghai, Meunier said that the 40-year partnership had yielded substantial results in business, scientific research, and university exchanges, and Shanghai's development and the two regions' complementary strengths provided a foundation for further cooperation.

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes is also working to establish a direct air link between Shanghai and Lyon to facilitate exchanges between the two regions, according to Meunier.

During the dialogue, the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality and the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes regional government signed an MoU on scientific and technological cooperation for 2026-31. The two sides' cooperation in this field dates back to 1986.

Under the new MoU, the two sides will expand cooperation in science and technology, industrial innovation, biomedicine, information technology, materials science, energy and the environment, food and agriculture, and transportation.

French biotechnology company CTIBiotech also signed an MoU with Vital River Laboratories, a China-based provider of research models and related services, to introduce CTIBiotech's human-derived tissue models and testing services to the Chinese market.

Before the dialogue, the delegation visited Zhangjiang AI InnoPark to learn how Shanghai's industrial ecosystem supports biomedical innovation and international cooperation. The area brings together pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, contract research organizations, and supporting services.

GenOway Shanghai, a Sino-French joint venture specializing in genetically modified research models, is one example. Liu Juan, CEO of Confluence Global Capital, which helped establish the venture, said the joint venture chose Zhangjiang to stay close to potential clients while gaining access to laboratory animal facilities and business support.

CTIBiotech offers another example of China-France cooperation in life sciences.

Nico Forraz is co-founder and CEO of CTIBiotech, which develops human-derived cell and tissue models to support research in oncology, immunology, and dermatology while reducing animal testing. He said Shanghai's pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and life sciences sectors offer potential clients and opportunities to develop the technology with local entrepreneurs, investors, and research partners.

He was particularly impressed by the city's ability to support medical technology development at every stage, from preclinical research and regulatory preparation to clinical application and international expansion.

During a visit to the Huangpu District Government Service Center, Meunier learned about Government Online-Offline Shanghai, an integrated platform through which businesses can access administrative services online or at brick-and-mortar service centers.

Delegation members praised the services for being accessible and convenient. They were especially interested that the entire process is free, businesses can get professional guidance without an appointment, and eligible matters can be handled across provincial boundaries throughout the Yangtze River Delta.