Merck, a major science and technology company, started operations of a new innovation and collaboration center in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Monday. This center is dedicated to serving the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by uniting efforts from government, industry and academia to foster technological breakthroughs on a global scale.

"It's not just an innovation center, it's also a collaboration center that will bring different forces together," said Rogier Janssens, president of Merck China. "The question was never why Shenzhen, but rather when. As an epicenter of science and technology, Shenzhen is perhaps the capital of the world in these fields right now."

The center, spanning a total of 2,500 square meters in Nanshan district, is a joint effort by Merck, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Shenzhen municipal government.

It includes a 600-square-meter main facility and an additional 1,900-square-meter laboratory operated by CAS. The laboratory is accessible to students, faculty members and research teams within the CAS system, fostering an open innovation ecosystem.

Janssens highlighted the center's role in facilitating breakthroughs, which he described as "not a solo act". He said: "We have the government providing policy support, academia offering ideas and innovation, and Merck bringing scale and speed to development.

"This cocktail of collaboration is what will drive new innovations forward."

The center is strategically positioned to capitalize on the GBA's burgeoning role as a gateway to global markets.

"Lots of Chinese startups and academic projects are originating right here, and the GBA offers opportunities to go global from this part of the world into any other one, especially given the financial markets so close by in Hong Kong," said Janssens.

However, he emphasized that the primary goal is to drive innovation through collaboration, with global expansion as a potential benefit.

Noting that Merck has witnessed China's evolution over its 93-year presence in the country, Janssens said China's opening-up is transitioning from phase 1.0, characterized by a surge in manufacturing and production, to the current 2.0.

This new phase emphasizes innovation and talent development, enhancing the entire ecosystem and fostering collaboration between government, industry and academia.

With the new center, Merck could better serve the development of the GBA with efforts including introducing global technological resources, high-end equipment and laboratory consumables, alongside supporting local enterprises to enhance their research and development capabilities and align with international standards, said Janssens.

chenhong@chinadaily.com.cn