政府新闻
上海力争成为全球高端体育装备创新中心 2025-10-09
Foreign officials and industry leaders attend the 2025 High-end Sports Equipment Industry Summit in Baoshan District on Thursday.North Shanghai's Baoshan District aims to become a global research and development center for equipment used in the F1H2O powerboat series, known as "Formula 1 on water."
Deng Xiaodong, director of the district, said Baoshan's location, industrial base and experience in hosting international events position it well to take on a new role in the sports equipment industry.
"By combining high-level competitions, industrial research and global collaboration, Baoshan will help Shanghai grow into a world-class sports city," Deng told the 2025 High-end Sports Equipment Industry Summit on Thursday.
The summit took place alongside the 2025 F1H2O China Grand Prix in Shanghai and the 98th General Assembly of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).
More than 200 officials, business leaders and experts took part, including UIM President Raffaele Chiulli, Monaco's ambassador to China and senior Chinese sports administrators.
"Sports unite people across borders. China is playing a key role in promoting this unity," Chiulli said. He invited Baoshan officials to visit UIM headquarters in Monaco, a sovereign principality in the French Riveira, to explore future projects.
China has one of the world's largest sports equipment sectors, with more than 63,000 companies producing gear nationwide.
In 2023, the industry's output value reached about 1.47 trillion yuan (US$206.341 billion), accounting for nearly 40 percent of the country's total sports industry.
Chinese manufacturers now supply equipment for major global competitions, including the Olympic Games.
Foreign guests explore Baoshan's intangible cultural heritage on the sidelines of the sports equipment summit.
Still, much of the sector focuses on mid-range consumer goods such as fitness machines and protective gear. The high-end, competition-grade equipment segment remains smaller.
In response, the central government this year launched research consortia to develop advanced Olympic-grade gear, smart technologies and new materials.
In September, new national guidelines were released to promote innovation and raise the global profile of Chinese sports brands.
Deng noted that Baoshan's strength lies in its international events and the advanced materials industry. The district hosts the annual F1H2O Grand Prix and is home to leading material producers such as Baowu Carbon and Yunlu Composites.
It also houses the Wusong Materials Laboratory, a national research center specializing in advanced porous materials.
Baoshan plans to build a "production, research, application and exchange" model to attract global players and form a cluster of elite sports equipment enterprises, Deng said.
At the summit, several agreements were signed between F1H2O powerboat teams, carbon fiber manufacturers, and aviation and composite companies.
A new carbon fiber sports equipment alliance was also established, bringing together more than 10 founding members to advance Shanghai's role in high-end sports innovation.
An official from the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) elaborates on the organization and global water sports during the summit.
Source: Shanghai Daily
