摘要：Under his leadership, Roche has steadily expanded its footprint in Shanghai, where it has operated for nearly a century. The compa

Roche Group chairman Severin Schwan received the title of Honorary Citizen of Shanghai during the 37th International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai (IBLAC), acknowledging his role in supporting the city's economic growth and innovation in biopharmaceuticals.

Schwan has participated in IBLAC for 16 consecutive years and has chaired the council since 2023, promoting global collaboration and offering policy advice to strengthen Shanghai's position as a science and technology hub.

Under his leadership, Roche has steadily expanded its footprint in Shanghai, where it has operated for nearly a century. The company has built a comprehensive value chain in China, spanning research and development, production, and commercialization. In 2019, Roche invested 863 million yuan (US$118 million) to upgrade its Shanghai research facility into the China Innovation Center of Roche, which now has independent authority for new drug discovery in oncology, immunology, and metabolic diseases.

Roche also launched the Roche Accelerator in 2021 with an investment of nearly 300 million yuan to incubate domestic biotech firms, now supporting about 20 startups and over 10 early-stage collaborations.

Most recently, Roche announced a 2.04 billion yuan (US$280 million) investment to build a new biopharmaceutical production base in Shanghai's Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, where it will manufacture Vabysmo (faricimab), a treatment for eye diseases. The new site will enhance local production capacity and strengthen Roche's long-term presence in China.

Schwan's recognition highlights both Roche's deep ties with Shanghai and the city's growing role as a global hub for life sciences innovation.

来源：露露课堂