D.Transformer Incubator

Nestled within the historic Lester building in Shanghai’s North Bund, D.Transformer Incubator and Design Innovation Institute Shanghai (DIIS) form a powerhouse for cross-disciplinary innovation and global impact. Founded in 2020 as a non-profit advanced research institute, DIIS pioneers a triad innovation model integrating technology, market dynamics, and human-centered design. Through design master studios, the prestigious Frontier Design Award, and its "Design Universe" platform hosting 300+ annual events, DIIS has become a global nexus for design-driven innovation. Launched in 2023 as DIIS' commercialization arm, D.Transformer combines specialized accelerators, corporate R&D laboratories, and emerging talent initiatives. Partnering with industry leaders like NVIDIA Inception and Kickstarter, it advances breakthroughs in AI-driven innovation, climate tech, wellness tech, and smart manufacturing. Together, the duo creates an innovation continuum, establishing an urban innovation infrastructure for the AI era.