ZEISS celebrates 175th anniversary in Pudong

German tech firm ZEISS celebrated its 175th anniversary in the Pudong New Area of East China's Shanghai on Nov 19, inviting a number of industry heavyweights for a roundtable discussion.

The event took place in Pudong because the optics giant’s regional headquarters is located in the Bonded Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, which is an important part of the area.

ZEISS was excited to announce that in the past 2019-20 fiscal year, its revenue reached eight billion yuan ($1.26 billion), indicating that the Chinese market has surpassed the United States and Germany to become the group's largest market in the world.

Maximilian Foerst, president of ZEISS China, hailed China as a hub for innovation, production, and multiple global strategic projects, as well as a benchmark for local innovation to benefit the world.

Eminent figures from across the country, including Mu Deyuan, president of the Chinese Society of Cinematographers and professor at the Beijing Film Academy, spoke about their visions, passions and related topics.

In 2012, ZEISS placed its first enterprise-level innovation R&D center outside Germany in Pudong. It has so far has obtained 53 intellectual property rights, 16 invention patents, 16 utility model patents, 17 design patents and four copyrights.

ZEISS invests 10 percent of its annual sales revenue in R&D on a global scale, according to a manager at the company.