ISSUING AUTHORITIES:

Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission

Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission

Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce

Shanghai Municipal Health Commission

Shanghai Medical Products Administration

DATE OF ISSUANCE:

June 3, 2026

EFFECTIVE DATE:

June 3, 2026

Shanghai has issued the Measures to Support the Implementation of High-Caliber Projects by Foreign-Invested Biomedical Enterprises (the “Measures”), jointly released by five municipal authorities. Effective June 3, the Measures set out 25 concrete provisions across project rollout, R&D, manufacturing, clinical trials, regulatory review, and market access, with a validity period through June 21, 2029.

The Measures support foreign-invested biomedical enterprises in establishing manufacturing bases, R&D centers, global or regional headquarters and other functional platforms in Shanghai. Major projects with advanced technologies and strong industrial impact may be included in municipal level major foreign-invested project lists and receive coordinated services covering market access, planning, environmental protection, construction, foreign exchange and import and export procedures.

The Measures also introduce support for R&D and commercialization activities, including the establishment of global R&D centers and innovation platforms, cooperation with local research institutions and medical institutions, international multi-center clinical trials, and the localization of imported drugs and medical devices. Relevant regulatory services, including optimized review and inspection procedures, are provided to facilitate product registration and market access.

In addition, the Measures address operational issues of foreign-invested biomedical enterprises, including cross-border data transfers, customs clearance for R&D material, intellectual property protection and investment expansion. A dedicated service mechanism will be established for high-caliber projects, with projects involving a total investment of RMB 1 billion or more eligible for inclusion in the service mechanism for multinational corporations.

The Measures give foreign investors clearer, faster pathways to move R&D, manufacturing, and regional headquarters into Shanghai.

Reference:

关于印发《关于支持生物医药外资企业高能级项目落地的若干措施》的通知