The unveiling ceremony of NI's China Innovative Development Center is held in Zhangjiang, Pudong New Area on Aug 26. [Photo/Official Wechat account of the administrative committee of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone]

American multinational company NI, formerly National Instruments Corporation, opened its China Innovative Development Center in Zhangjiang, Pudong New Area, East China's Shanghai on Aug 26.

This is a new milestone in NI's business development in China and also an exciting starting point, said Zhu Jun, director of the center, adding that NI is hoping to work with partners to create an innovative talents incubator.

According to the company, the center will focus on integrating with China's local innovation system, as well as helping domestic partners and users enhance their competitiveness. It will build joint laboratories with universities and research institutes to provide hardware or software solutions to scientists and researchers, as well as to enable students to conduct experiments.

In addition, the center will work with the Shanghai United Foundation to provide more youths with STEM education containing four disciplines that are science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The innovation center has an automotive innovation laboratory. [Photo/Official Wechat account of the administrative committee of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone]

A group of former NI employees, who are now entrepreneurs engaged in sectors like automobiles, semiconductors, and electronics, attended the unveiling ceremony. Gu Jie, one of those entrepreneurs, is now the CEO of Shanghai Fourier Intelligence Technology Co. The six-year-old company is based in Zhangjiang and has set up many overseas branches in cities like London, Chicago, as well as Melbourne. Its products are sold to more than 20 countries.

The innovative development center of NI is expected to boost the entire industry, as well as fuel the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in Zhangjiang, said Fan Jincheng, deputy director of Pudong's technological and economic council.