International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), a leading multinational corporation, has been leveraging the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District (CBD)'s open ecosystem and efficient services to drive innovation.
"We chose Hongqiao for its international openness, abundant scientific resources and convenient transportation, which are essential for our R&D innovation and global operations," a general manager from IFF's administration department said.
IFF established its largest innovation R&D center in Asia in the CBD in 2024. The 16,000-square-meter facility, located in Changning district, serves as IFF's Asian innovation hub.
It combines basic research focusing on probiotics and enzymes with applied research covering food, biotechnology, flavors and fragrances, with the goal of meeting the real demands of the Chinese and Asia-Pacific markets.
The IFF Asia Innovation R&D Center in the Hongqiao International Central Business District. [Photo/WeChat ID: hongqiaoshangwuqu]
The center boasts a demonstration kitchen, an instant noodle test production line, a fine fragrance area and a 360-degree digital experience space for immersive olfactory exploration. It also features sensory science laboratories and fragrance innovation studios with cutting-edge facilities.
Since first entering the Chinese market in 1981, IFF has expanded its presence to 12 cities across China, operating 10 factories and nine R&D centers. The Shanghai hub collaborates closely with IFF's global network of more than 50 research and application centers.
Moving forward, IFF plans to deepen industry-university-research cooperation with local universities and research institutes, accelerate the transformation of scientific achievements into market applications, and further integrate into Hongqiao's innovation ecosystem.
