On the afternoon of October 11th, 2025, the Shanghai Nanjing Plus 2025 delegation visited the Caohejing Development Zone, where they toured the Rockwell Automation Net-Zero Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Center and the Shanghai Humanoid Robot Innovation Incubator, and later held a discussion in the library with representatives of the young employees from the Caohejing Development Zone.
A Visit to the Rockwell Automation Net-Zero Intelligent Manufacturing Joint Innovation Center
On the afternoon of October 11th, 2025, the delegation visited the Rockwell Automation Net Zero Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Center located in the Caohejing Development Zone. Rockwell Automation is an industrial automation company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It entered China in 1988 and, in 2009, established operations in Shanghai’s Caohejing Development Zone. In 2023, Rockwell Automation and the Caohejing Development Zone jointly founded the Caohejing–Rockwell Automation Net Zero Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Center, an innovation platform that the two sides are building together in the Caohejing Tech Oasis. The platform adopted a new “end-to-end innovation integration” incubation model, focusing on three dimensions: industrial upgrading, sustainable development, and cross-sector innovation. This new platform prioritizes artificial intelligence and big data, the industrial metaverse, the Industrial Internet of Things, manufacturing operations management, and advanced process control and robotics applications, to create benchmark application scenarios for smart green development. At the same time, working with a cross-sector ecosystem, the platform is building a “1+5+N” innovation enablement platform to provide enterprises with comprehensive services in technological innovation, talent development, IPOs, digital experience, and industry empowerment.
Group photo from the event
During their visit, members of the delegation received a briefing on Rockwell and watched a promotional video, before visiting the facilities that hold the equipment for flexible materials, intelligent production control platforms, among others. Next, they spoke with staff and discussed empowering enterprises through the innovation platform. At the end of the event, the delegation took a group photo.
Delegation members receiving a briefing on the company
Later that afternoon, the group visited the Shanghai Humanoid Robot Innovation Incubator located within the high-tech development zone. After staff provided a brief overview of the incubator, the delegates entered the “Robot Supermarket,” where they experienced robotics technology through interactive activities.
Tour of the facilities
At the robot dog exhibit, the robot dog demonstrated movements such as jumping, standing up, lying down, and running. Members of the delegation were eager to watch the demonstration, even taking photos with their phones, posing for photos with the robot dog, and asking the staff about its technical features.
Group members interacting with a robot
Afterward, the delegation visited the robotics booth, where a robot approached them and offered friendly handshakes. They also sampled strawberry-flavored ice cream made by the robot, listening to staff explanations as they tasted. The visit was relaxed and cheerful.
Group members listening to a briefing
Discussion with the Young Employee Representatives from the Caohejing Development Zone
After touring the incubator, the delegation went to the library in the Caohejing Development Zone where they engaged in a discussion with representatives of the Zone’s young employees.
Group photo at the event
After touring the incubator, the delegation went to the library in the Caohejing Development Zone where they engaged in a discussion with representatives of the Zone’s young employees.
Zhang Junyi, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Caohejing Development Zone, began by extending a warm welcome to the delegation. Next, a representative of the Shanghai Nanjing Plus 2025 delegation, Jonathon P. Sine, shared his impressions of visiting the Development Zone. Following this, the young employee representatives from the Development Zone briefed the delegation on the zone’s history, location, industrial layout, among other aspects.
Chaired by Zhang Junyi, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Caohejing Development Zone
At the event
The discussion was conducted in two parts: a Q&A and group discussions. Delegation members asked questions on topics such as the development of the Caohejing Development Zone, and the technology transfer and commercialization of research outcomes, to which the Young Employee Representatives responded in detail, drawing on their practical experience. The delegation then split into groups with the Zone’s young employee representatives for in-depth dialogues on industrial innovation and cross-sector technological integration. Overall, the session was a lively exchange of ideas in a relaxed and interactive atmosphere.
At the event
