Shimadzu will undertake more joint research in China with local universities and institutes, seeing more openings for its precision instruments in fields including food products and medical care as research standards there rise.

The Japanese manufacturer aims to have 120 joint research laboratories in three years, up from around 80 presently. Shimadzu also will add more analysis centers, facilities geared towards developing technologies for customers as well as training for these clients.

In its cooperative research, the company mainly provides equipment and methods for calculation and analysis in fields including medicine, chemicals, environmental science and agriculture.

Shimadzu last month expanded its Shanghai hub, roughly doubling the area of its analysis center as well as completing its lineup of large analysis equipment. The company also enlarged its facilities for client training and exchange, intending to build on them as foundations for furthering its joint research.

The manufacturer operates six analysis centers, located in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shenyang and Chengdu. Shimadzu opens another this year in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, and aims to establish an eighth center by 2020 in central China, perhaps in the Hubei Province capital of Wuhan.