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Shanghai's Fuxing Island: The New Global Maker Hub

On December 18, 2025, Shanghai embarked on an exciting journey by officially launching Fuxing Island as a Global Maker Island. This significant event marks a transformative stage in the evolution of this former industrial area, now reinvigorated to foster a hub for innovation, startups, and urban experimentation.

Located along the lower reaches of the Huangpu River, Fuxing Island has undergone extensive redevelopment since the city’s announcement in the past year to establish the Quantum City Space-Time Intelligence Innovation Base. This ambitious project involved extensive renovations of historical industrial structures, turning them into vibrant spaces for entrepreneurs and innovators.

The launch coincided with the 2025 Shanghai Quantum City Annual Conference, further highlighting the island’s role in quantum technology and urban development. The conference served as a stage to unveil an actionable development plan for Fuxing Island aimed at transforming it into a global hub for makers and innovators.

An Open Ecosystem for Startups

One of the crucial aspects of the plan released is the concerted effort to reduce startup costs, streamline innovation processes, and cultivate a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. To facilitate this environment, Shanghai is taking significant steps, including providing affordable office space in the newly refurbished industrial properties. Stipulated rents will not exceed 1 yuan (approximately $0.14) per square meter per day, making it significantly easier for startups to establish themselves in this promising location.

Additionally, the plan unveils the provision of approximately 2,500 apartments for entrepreneurs, with a cap on monthly rents set at 1,000 yuan. Mental health and wellness are critical, and innovative support schemes will include offering startup companies innovation vouchers. These vouchers will cover up to 50% of contract values, plus additional resources for computing power and AI models, with a total ceiling of 5 million yuan available for eligible startups.

Accelerating Innovation

As part of its commitment to fostering innovation, Shanghai is collaborating with prominent companies to create dedicated platforms for research and development. This will include recruiting leading global incubator operators to drive innovation and growth in Fuxing Island’s burgeoning ecosystem. The incentives for technology-focused companies are also attractive, with possibilities for tiered research and development grants of up to 2 million yuan in addition to access to various financial services and supportive infrastructure.

Focus on Talent Development

Crucial to the success of the initiative is a strong emphasis on talent development and collaboration. Plans include establishing a maker academy and forming a university innovation alliance aimed at promoting resource sharing among institutions. Young entrepreneurs will receive holistic support, ranging from mentorship to practical training opportunities.

To create an attractive and engaging environment, the redevelopment also aims to transform more obsolete industrial sites and waterfront areas into public cultural and leisure spaces. Fuxing Island is poised to host a myriad of international events, competitions, exhibitions, and community-driven activities, further solidifying its status as a premier destination for innovation.

The Road Ahead

As the initiative progresses, Fuxing Island is strategically focusing on three areas: digital intelligence, art and design, and people-centric urban space development. The vision is clear: position Fuxing Island as a living laboratory for quantum city applications and as a launchpad for future urban development and global entrepreneurship.

Currently, the island has already welcomed 12 domestic and international incubators along with 14 startup companies, marking the beginning of this ambitious venture. As Shanghai rolls out its plans, Fuxing Island stands as a testament to the city's commitment to innovation and economic transformation in the face of fast-paced global changes.