Merz's Hangzhou Visit Reveals a New Chapter in Sino-German Tech Cooperation

德国总理揭开了一座中国“宝藏”

Merz's Hangzhou Visit Reveals a New Chapter in Sino-German Tech Cooperation

（来源：浙江省国际传播中心Zhejiang International Communication Center）

当德国总理默茨的车队穿过杭州的街巷，最终停在宇树科技大门口时，恐怕连随行的那约30位德国商界巨头都没有想到——

When German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s motorcade made its way through the streets of Hangzhou and finally stopped at the gates of Unitree Robotics, even the roughly 30 German business leaders traveling with him probably did not expect what they were about to see.

这座以西湖和电商闻名的中国江南名城，早已不仅仅是“阿里的故乡”，更在不经意间，长成了一座“中德硬科技合作的隐形桥头堡”。

Hangzhou, a historic city in East China, famed for its West Lake and home of Alibaba Group, has quietly grown into something more: a bridgehead for high-tech cooperation between China and Germany.

默茨这次访华，行程极其紧凑，但他把宝贵的一天时间留给了杭州。他坐红旗车，去看宇树的机器人，去访西门子能源；与浙江省委主要领导会面时，他说：“这是我第一次访问浙江，在这里感受到了浙江经济发展的蓬勃活力。”

Merz's visit to China was tightly scheduled, yet he devoted a precious day to Hangzhou. He rode in a Hongqi sedan, toured Unitree's robotics facilities, visited Siemens Energy, and met with senior officials of Zhejiang province, where he said, "This is my first visit to Zhejiang. Here, I have felt the vibrant momentum of economic development."

与今天这些既定公开行程相比，一个事实其实更让人惊讶：德国企业这些年在杭州、在浙江，悄无声息间，已然遍地开花——不是一两家的试探，而是成群结队地扎根；不是表面的热闹，而是系统布局。

Despite of his tight schedule, another fact is even more striking. German companies have flourished across Hangzhou and Zhejiang in recent years. This is not a matter of one or two tentative ventures. It is a coordinated, systematic layout—rooted deeply, expanding steadily.

01

西门子扎根杭州30余年

Siemens' 30-Plus Years in Hangzhou

西门子能源是杭州之行唯一被德国总理“点名”参观的德企，也是德企在浙江埋下的一颗种子，如今已长成一棵繁茂大树。

Siemens Energy was the only German company specifically included in the chancellor's Hangzhou tour. It represents a seed that German companies have planted in Zhejiang decades ago and has grown into a towering tree.

这次到访，牵出一件鲜为人知的往事——30多年前，当时的浙江省主要领导曾带队赴欧洲招商，首选就是西门子。

This visit brings back a little-known story. More than 30 years ago, senior officials of Zhejiang led a delegation to Europe to attract investment. And Siemens was their top target.

当年的招商团成员、时任杭州经开区管委会负责人张学宁向记者回忆了当年的往事。

Zhang Xuening, then head of Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Area (HEDA), recalled that journey.

上世纪90年代中期，一个来自浙江的代表团远渡重洋，辗转20多个小时飞机，来到繁华的柏林街头。一行人顾不得休息，略带疲惫地坐在西门子的会议室中——他们的目的很明确：招商。

In the mid-1990s, a Zhejiang delegation flew more than 20 hours to Berlin. Without rest, they went straight into a Siemens meeting room with one clear goal: to win investment.

“那会儿，杭州经开区大部分都是土路，停电是家常便饭，本地企业都不愿来。”面对享誉全球的世界500强，当年那种惴惴不安的心情，张学宁至今难以忘怀。

"At that time, most roads in HEDA were dirt roads. Power outages were common. Even local firms hesitated to come," Zhang remembered. Facing a Fortune 500 Global, they felt pressure.

当年，西门子的首选地并非杭州。“为了留住西门子，我们反复研究挖出了对方‘痛点’：其先进设备难以与中国电力系统进行适配，最后靠一套‘解决方案’打动了德国人。”张学宁说。

At that time, Hangzhou was not Siemens' first choice. "We studied their pain points carefully," Zhang said. "Their advanced equipment was difficult to adapt to China's power grid. In the end, a tailored solution package won them over."

1995年，西门子决定投资杭州，由此开启了深耕杭州的篇章。30余年间，企业从37亩地扩展到100多亩，接连三次增资扩产——

In 1995, Siemens decided to invest in Hangzhou. Over the following 30 years, its facility expanded from 37 mu (2.47 hectares) to more than 100 mu, with three rounds of reinvestment.

2021年，公司启动二期项目，投资8164万元；几乎在同一时期，又投入7000万元启动以“绿色环保”为核心的三期项目；2025年再次投资1.5亿元，启动四期项目，将德国总部的部分高压断路器产能转移到杭州。

In 2021, phase II began with an investment of 81.64 million yuan ($11.9 million). Around the same time, 70 million yuan was invested in a green-focused phase III project. In 2025, another 150 million yuan was committed to phase IV, transferring part of its high-voltage circuit breaker capacity from Germany to Hangzhou.

去年，西门子能源杭州工厂荣获国家级专精特新“小巨人”企业，从单纯的本土制造基地，升级为西门子能源全球生产网络中的核心一环。

In 2025, the Siemens Energy plant in Hangzhou was recognized as a national-level "Little Giant" enterprise specializing in niche technologies, upgrading from a local manufacturing base to a core node in Siemens Energy's global production network.

当默茨作为德国总理走进这家企业时，他看到的不仅是德国技术的中国落地，更是一种跨越世纪的信任传承。

When Chancellor Merz walked into the factory, he saw more than German technology operating in China. He saw a legacy of trust spanning decades.

从浙江招商团赴欧引入西门子能源，到如今德国总理专程参访杭州本土新锐科技企业宇树科技，这种角色互换，更像是一场双向奔赴的升级：过去，我们用市场吸引技术；今天，我们用创新赢得瞩目。

From Zhejiang officials traveling to Europe to lure investment from Siemens, to a German chancellor visiting a homegrown Chinese robotics company like Unitree, roles have evolved. A big market for technology has become an innovation hub attracting global attention.

西门子股份公司董事会主席博乐仁接受记者采访时说，我认为这座城市有机会成为中国的"硅谷"，这里有许多顶尖的科技公司。德国企业已成为中国产业体系中非常重要的一部分，这一点至关重要。

Roland Busch, president of Siemens AG, said in an interview that Hangzhou has the potential to become China's "Silicon Valley", home to many top technology companies. German enterprises, he emphasized, are now an integral part of China's industrial system.

这是后来的故事——西门子打开大门之后，德国企业共来杭投资了322个项目，投资总额 17.46亿美元。有13家世界500强德资企业在杭投资26个项目。

After Siemens' investment, 322 German investment projects have landed in Hangzhou, totaling $1.746 billion. Thirteen German Fortune 500 companies have launched 26 projects in the city.

02

这两年，德企在杭悄悄干了三件大事

Three Breakthroughs

把目光聚焦到杭州，记者发现仅仅是最近两年间，德国企业在杭州干三件“破天荒”的大事：

In the past two years, German companies have made three landmark developments in Hangzhou.

第一件事，2025年9月，德国唯一一家人形机器人公司Neura Robotics，把自己的中国总部开到了杭州萧山。

In September 2025, Neura Robotics, Germany's only humanoid robotics company, established its China headquarters in Xiaoshan, Hangzhou.

这可不是一个小打小闹的办事处。注册资本高达4500万欧元，接近4亿元人民币。这家被称作人形机器人领域“新势力”的企业，带着它的认知机器人技术，直接扎进了萧山机器人小镇。

This was not a small representative office. With registered capital of 45 million euros, the company brought its cognitive robotics technology directly into Xiaoshan's robot town.

为什么是杭州？

Why Hangzhou?

去年4月，Neura创始人David Reger曾专门到访兆丰股份考察。后者是一家在轴承领域多年深耕的小巨人企业，双方针对人形机器人的技术路线等进行了深入探讨。

In April 2025, David Reger, founder of Neura, visited Zhejiang Zhaofeng Mechanical and Electronic Co, a specialized "Little Giant" enterprise in bearings. They held in-depth discussions on humanoid robot technology pathways.

“这是完整产业链接的优势，是创新生态的胜利，这里不仅有阿里云这样的算力巨头，还有密密麻麻的供应链配套。”萧山机器人小镇负责人表示。

According to local officials, Hangzhou's advantage lies in its complete industrial chain and innovation system, from Alibaba Cloud to dense supplier networks.

第二件事，2026年1月，被誉为纺织界“莱卡”的德国百年家族企业ERWO集团，在杭州设立爱睿思智能科技。它要做的不是简单的纺织机械，而是智能机器人研发、工业机器人制造。

In January, century-old German family-owned ERWO Holding, known in textiles as the "Lycra of its industry", established an intelligent technology company in Hangzhou. Instead of traditional textile machinery, it is focusing on intelligent robotics R&D and industrial robot manufacturing.

一个百年德国隐形冠军，把最前沿的智能化项目落地杭州，释放的信号不言而喻。

For a German champion to place cutting-edge smart projects in Hangzhou sends a clear signal.

对德国制造素有研究的浙江清华长三院新经济研究中心主任明文彪表示，德国人做企业讲究传承，很多家族企业在中国耕耘几十年，但最核心的研发和智能部分，往往还是攥在老家手里。如今，这个惯例，在杭州也被打破了。

Ming Wenbiao, director of New Economy Research Center at Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang, who has long studied German manufacturing, said that German companies place great emphasis on continuity and inheritance. Many family-owned firms have operated in China for decades, yet their most critical R&D and intelligent technologies have remained in Germany. In Hangzhou, that convention is now shifting.

更绝的是亚琛工业大学的团队。就在今年1月，这群来自德国顶级工科大学的技术大牛，选择落户杭州余杭的海创园，创立了钮智智能科技。这些“最聪明的脑袋”愿意跨山越海来杭州创业，本身就是对这里创新土壤的最高褒奖。

In the same month, a team from RWTH Aachen University set up Niuzhi Intelligent Technology in Yuhang district of Hangzhou. Top engineers from Germany to launch a startup in Hangzhou speaks volumes about the city's innovation appeal.

第三件事，今年2月，红杉中国完成了对德国制药巨头拜耳核心产品莫西沙星相关业务的全球收购。拜耳的这个明星产品，最终落脚在了杭州，成立了杉泽生物医药有限公司。

In February, HSG (formerly known as Sequoia Capital China), completed global acquisition of core business assets related to moxifloxacin from pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG. The product has since been anchored in Hangzhou under Shanze BioPharma.

为什么这些高精尖的德国企业，忽然集体爱上了杭州？

Why these collectives turn toward Hangzhou?

答案就藏在默茨今天参访的两个地方里——宇树科技和西门子能源。

The answer lies in the two places Chancellor Merz visited, Unitree Robotics and Siemens Energy, according to Ming.

明文彪认为，首先是生态的“化学反应”。杭州不仅有阿里，更有一批像宇树、深度求索、云深处这样的科技新贵。这种由数字经济、人工智能、机器人构建的“创新浓度”，在全球都不多见。对于Neura Robotics这样的企业来说，来杭州就像鱼儿游进了大海，身边全是懂AI、懂算法、懂硬件的同类。

Ming said that Hangzhou's appeal extends beyond Alibaba to a cluster of emerging technology players, including Unitree Robotics, DeepSeek and Deep Robotics. The concentration of capabilities in digital technology, AI and robotics is rare on a global scale. For a company such as Neura Robotics, Hangzhou offers a deep pool of expertise in AI, algorithms and hardware integration.

其次是服务的温度。无论是萧山为了引进Neura给出的政策包，还是余杭海创园对亚琛工大团队的贴心服务，杭州那种“我负责阳光雨露，你负责茁壮成长”的营商环境，对讲究严谨但同样需要效率的德国企业来说，吸引力不小。

Another reason Ming noted is service efficiency. From Xiaoshan district's tailored policy packages for Neura to Yuhang district's support for RWTH Aachen team, Hangzhou offers what officials describe as: "We provide the sunshine and rain; you focus on growing."

最后是时间的“长期主义”。西门子能源在杭州已经深耕了30余年，博世电动工具在滨江也迎来了30周年庆典。正是这几十年的先遣部队，尝到了甜头，才带来了今天这波由百年家族企业和隐形冠军组成的 “大部队”。

The last reason is long-term commitment, according to Ming. Siemens Energy has been in Hangzhou for over 30 years. Bosch recently marked its 30-year anniversary in Binjiang district. These pioneers paved the way for today's wave of foreign firms.

03

浙江涌动“德企潮”

"German Tide" in Zhejiang

如果我们把视线从杭州抬起，放到整个浙江，会发现这种“德企潮”并非杭州一枝独秀，而是一场全省域的协同。

Beyond Hangzhou, the trend extends across Zhejiang province.

在北面的嘉兴，国家级经济技术开发区里有个“中德（嘉兴）产业合作园”，这几年一直在默默扩容。就在今年1月，园区还在为“未来工厂”的基础设施提升进行招标，准备承接更多德国的“精兵强将”。

In Jiaxing, Sino-German (Jiaxing) Industrial Cooperation Park continues to expand. In January alone, infrastructure upgrades were tendered to support future German "advanced manufacturing" projects.

在东面的宁波，德国清洗巨头卡赫设立合资子公司。该企业负责人在去年一次活动上对记者说，对华战略投资密集期，恰恰也是业务的高速成长期，企业近十年年均复合增长率达到20%。

In Ningbo, cleaning equipment giant Kärcher has set up a joint venture. At an event last year, the company's executive said that the period of intensive strategic investment in China has coincided with a phase of rapid business expansion, with the company achieving an average annual compound growth rate of 20 percent over the past decade.

不仅如此，一大批宁波企业进入卡赫供应链，年出口额超6000万美元。比如一台高压清洗机，零部件“甬产率”高达30%-40%。

Many Ningbo suppliers have entered Kärcher's supply chain, with annual exports exceeding $60 million. For a single high-pressure washer, 30 to 40 percent of components are now produced in Ningbo.

在省内嘉兴、台州等地多点开花的中德产业合作园，正成为德企在中国乃至亚太的创新中心。

Across Jiaxing, Taizhou, and other cities, Sino-German industrial parks are emerging as innovation centers for German firms in China and the Asia-Pacific region.

浙江省与德国石荷州、省科协与柏林夏洛特医科大学等各专业领域的人才技术交流，也为经贸合作打下基础。“德国石荷州和浙江省是友好省份，我们也希望能推动医疗等相关产业的石荷州企业了解浙江，与浙江在生产、科研等各个领域形成合作。”德国石荷州经济技术促进中心中国办事处副主任麻珂说。

Talent and technology exchanges between Zhejiang and German state of Schleswig-Holstein, as well as between Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, have also laid groundwork for deeper economic and trade cooperation. "Schleswig-Holstein and Zhejiang are sister provinces. We hope to help companies in Schleswig-Holstein, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, gain a better understanding of Zhejiang and build partnerships across production, research and other fields," said Ma Ke, deputy director of China Office of Business Development and Technology Transfer Corporation of Schleswig-Holstein.

从杭州的创新研发，到嘉兴、台州的精密制造和产业承接，浙江正在形成一条完整的“中德合作黄金产业链”。

From innovation in Hangzhou to precision manufacturing in Jiaxing and Taizhou, Zhejiang is forming a complete "golden industrial chain" for Sino-German cooperation.

一组更有力的数据是，在浙德资企业进出口快速增长。据杭州海关统计，2025年，在浙德资企业进出口增长15.4%，高出同期浙江外资企业增速12.5个百分点。

Imports and exports of German-invested enterprises in Zhejiang grew by 15.4 percent in 2025, 12.5 percentage points higher than the province's overall foreign-invested enterprise growth rate, according to Hangzhou Customs District.

当默茨总理离开杭州，他带走的不仅是对西湖美景的珍贵回忆，更是对这片土地价值和活力的重新发现：中德合作，正在从“德国技术+中国市场”的旧模式，升级一种双向的技术互补、价值共创。

When Chancellor Merz left Hangzhou, he carried more than memories of the beauty of the West Lake. He left with a renewed understanding of the region's value and vitality. Sino-German cooperation is evolving, from the old model of "German technology + Chinese market" to a new era of two-way technological complementarity and shared value creation.

杭州和浙江，恰好是这个新模式的试验场和展示窗。

Hangzhou and Zhejiang are the testing ground and showcase for this new model.

未来的故事，或许才刚刚开始。

The story of the future has just begun.