The Pudong New Area government released its Group Open Innovation plan in July to encourage industry leaders to set up open innovation platforms in Pudong. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Another 14 companies in Pudong, East China's Shanghai announced that they will join the Group Open Innovation (GOI) plan, which was released by the Pudong New Area government in July, bringing the total number of participating companies to 34.

The GOI plan is part of Pudong's efforts to accomplish the mission assigned by the central government to turn Pudong into a pioneering force in the socialist modernization of China and become a key engine in self-reliant innovation.

An industry leader applying for the GOI plan should have a specific plan to build an open innovation center and a professional team, explained Pudong's deputy head Wu Qiang. In three years, the company should nurture at least 100 start-ups by providing help in terms of technology, investment or the setting up of ecosystems.

The newly added companies, which include the DuPont Shanghai Innovation Center, the idea.lab Shanghai by German materials developer Covestro and the Huawei 5G International Innovation Center for Digital Film and Television, will further enhance the area's innovation capability.

The first batch of companies joining the GOI plan, including Johnson & Johnson's JLabs in Shanghai, Microsoft's artificial intelligence and internet of things lab and the IBM Watson Build Innovation Center have increased their investment in Pudong and leveraged their advantages in market and resources to empower the development of middle- and small-sized enterprises.

"With the help of the GOI plan, CSSC Marine Power Company will encourage more upstream and downstream partners to promote technological innovations," said Bao Dongming, vice-president of the company.