Lin-gang Special Area emerges as magnet for innovators

Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area is emerging as a magnet for entrepreneurs thanks to its low costs, strong support, and abundant market opportunities.

To support early-stage startups, Lin-gang offers more than 300,000 square meters of affordable innovation space and over 5,000 youth apartments in the first five years of operation. Entrepreneurs with doctoral or master's degrees are eligible for rent-free office space, accommodation at 60 percent of market rates, home purchase subsidies, and household registration.

Last year, Lin-gang launched a "grant-to-investment" pilot program offering R&D subsidies to early-stage startups.

Entrepreneur Zheng Huizhe launched a startup based around his automotive software hybrid security system concept. With two million yuan ($289,324) in funding secured through the program, his five-member team developed a mass-production-ready solution within months, attracting customers such as leading automaker SAIC Motor. The first vehicle model is expected to enter mass production in early 2027.

Zheng said the initial one million yuan from the program eased immediate concerns such as labor costs and prototype development, helping the company advance product iteration and build its industrial ecosystem.

In addition, Lin-gang offers extensive real-world industrial applications and market opportunities, encouraging leading companies to share real-world applications and helping startups quickly secure their first orders.

Since last year, Lin-gang has been promoting the development of the One Person Company (OPC) initiative and other programs, building a support system covering the entire entrepreneurial lifecycle. Backed by talent apartments and other supportive measures, the flagship space Zero Cube has attracted more than 150 startup teams within just five months.

Lin-gang is also developing a talent-focused support system. The Dishui Lake AI Innovation Harbor, along with the other three sci-tech innovation communities, creates a coordinated innovation matrix, with each community having a clear industrial focus.