SHANGHAI — A new platform designed to foster international collaboration in the beauty industry has launched in Shanghai’s Jing’an district.

On March 3, the Beauty Hub, a global beauty innovation platform jointly initiated by Beauty Nova Tech Hub and WWD’s sister publication WWD China, debuted alongside the opening of the exhibition “Rites of Beauty.” Industry executives, brand representatives and international business organizations gathered at the Daning Beauty Nova Tech Hub complex to mark the occasion.

First introduced as a concept during the 2025 China International Import Expo, the initiative now moves into its operational phase, positioning Jing’an as a new gateway for international beauty innovation and collaboration.

Located within the Beauty Nova Tech Hub complex in northern Jing’an, the platform is designed as a year-round hub supporting international exchange across the beauty industry. Beyond serving as a showroom or exhibition venue, Beauty Hub aims to provide practical infrastructure for brands operating across markets.

Its activities will include market-entry guidance, industry forums, brand showcases, training sessions and partnerships connecting international companies with China’s beauty ecosystem. The initiative is structured around three pillars: technology-driven innovation, sustainability and global collaboration.

The launch ceremony was attended by officials and industry representatives including Chen Wenshan, director of the consumer goods and fashion industry development department at the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization; Mao Lipeng, chairman of Daning Group; Lan Zhenzhen, president of public affairs for North Asia and China at L’Oréal, and Lynn Fu, chief executive officer of WWD Greater China.

Alongside the launch, organizers unveiled two initiatives designed to support cross-border cooperation in the sector.

The first is the Global Beauty Innovation Network, a collaborative framework intended to facilitate international partnerships in research and development, market expansion, talent exchange and best-practice sharing. The second is the “Beauty for Future” initiative, which brings together 66 beauty brands committed to advancing sustainability, innovation and inclusive growth across the industry.

The platform will also host the inaugural Global Beauty CEO Summit on June 5, bringing together executives and industry leaders to discuss the next phase of growth in the global beauty market.

According to Mao of Daning Group, the project is designed to support both international brands entering China and Chinese companies expanding abroad.

“The platform is intended to be both a first stop for international brands exploring the Chinese market and a bridge for Chinese beauty companies looking to build a global presence,” Mao said during the event.

Early partnerships revealed at the launch illustrate this dual focus. French medical aesthetics brand Vivacy will introduce its Stylage L product line through the platform, while Daning Group has signed a strategic agreement with Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group to support global logistics services for beauty companies expanding internationally.

International exchanges are already planned through the Global Beauty Innovation Network. In April, the British Beauty Council will lead a delegation of U.K. clean beauty brands to Shanghai for an industry visit, with a reciprocal visit to London planned later this year — further positioning the platform as a bridge between beauty markets.

A panel discussion held during the launch explored how technology is reshaping the industry’s global landscape. Titled “Global Ambition: Tech-Driven Expansion of the Beauty Industry,” the roundtable brought together executives from Boston Consulting Group, Tangmei Biotechnology and Chando Group to discuss the role of scientific research, efficacy testing and digital marketing in strengthening the international competitiveness of beauty brands.

Running alongside the launch, the “Rites of Beauty” exhibition offered an immersive look at contemporary beauty culture through a series of thematic installations exploring science, sustainability, design and consumer experience. Highlights included a visual art installation created by celebrity makeup artist Tony Li and the “Sustain 100 Good Goods” concept store, curated by WWD China and Beauty Nova Tech Hub.

The initiative also reflects Jing’an district’s broader ambition to develop a global hub for the beauty and wellness industries. Already home to a large number of multinational headquarters and premium retail destinations, the district is expanding its focus beyond retail toward innovation spanning beauty, health, technology and fashion.

With the opening of Beauty Hub, Shanghai further strengthens its role as a global center for beauty industry exchange — connecting international brands, emerging technologies and new consumer markets.