Innovation is a buzzword in China's 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations for the period from 2026 to 2030.

China's rapid rise as a global innovation hub is reshaping industries worldwide, attracting multinational corporations like ZEISS, Vale, and Caterpillar to collaborate and invest in its dynamic ecosystem.

These partnerships demonstrate how China's innovative prowess is not only transforming its domestic market but also influencing global sci-tech and sustainable development trends.

ZEISS, a technological pioneer in the optics and photonics field, has embraced China's innovation potential and deepened its roots in the country through localized innovation and partnerships.

"China offers a vast market, an open business environment, favorable policies, abundant talents and resources, and sophisticated supply chains. This unique combination makes China an ideal destination for business," Martin Fischer, president and CEO of ZEISS Greater China, said. He emphasized that ZEISS is continuously advancing local innovation in China, and strives to become an integral part of the country's innovation ecosystem.

Currently, ZEISS has three R&D centers located in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Guangzhou, and holds 89 impactful patents in China. It is also engaging and collaborating with academic and research institutions to drive the transformation from scientific breakthroughs into industrial applications.

"ZEISS has been a trusted partner in China since 1957, coinciding with the country's first Five-Year Plan period. As the 15th Five-Year Plan period is approaching, both ZEISS and China are poised for new beginnings," Fischer said, vowing to expand the company's investment and presence in China.

The Chinese market has become the largest market for ZEISS since 2021. Over the past decade, the company's revenue increased six-fold in China.

Brazilian mining giant Vale recognizes significant strengths in China's innovation ecology, and has deepened its innovation cooperation with China.

Tracy Xie, CEO of Vale China, said: "Chinese-style innovation prioritizes resource integration and shared development, leveraging the nation's extensive industrial infrastructure and collaborative culture." She cited Vale's expanded innovation network as a prime example, including its joint laboratory with the Central South University in Changsha in central China.

Established last year, the 3,000-square-meter facility, equipped with 100+ cutting-edge instruments, focuses on low-carbon and hydrogen metallurgy research. Open to researchers industry-wide, it aims to advance theoretical breakthroughs and pioneering technologies in sustainable metallurgy.

Caterpillar, a U.S. manufacturer of heavy equipment, also views China as a strategic location. In its 50-year presence in China, the company has built a complete value chain including local R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain.

It is focused on long-term opportunities in economic growth in China, where innovation is aligned with infrastructure development and sustainability goals.

"In the coming years, we will be continuously committed to China, bringing better solutions to local customers," Alan Yang, Caterpillar's senior vice president, said. Caterpillar remains dedicated to future innovation through investments in AACE technologies—autonomy, alternative fuels, connectivity and digital, and electrification—to meet evolving customer needs.

These cases underscore China's ability to attract and co-create with global leaders. From ZEISS' optics to Vale's sustainable metallurgy and Caterpillar's smart solutions, China's innovative ecosystem offers technology innovation, transfer, scale, and policy synergy, making it an indispensable partner for multinationals.

As the world watches, "Innovative China" continues to draw the world—not just as a market, but as a collaborator in shaping the future.