In 1984, 3M China Co., Ltd. was registered and established in Shanghai, becoming China's first wholly foreign-owned enterprise with foreign investment outside the special economic zone.

In 1991, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Caohejing factory of 3M China Co., Ltd. In 1994, the 3M Innovation Technology Center was completed. In 1995, 3M China Co., Ltd. entered the top 500 industrial product sales companies in Shanghai. In 1998, 3M China's annual sales exceeded the US$100 million mark for the first time. In 2002, 3M China Co., Ltd.

China was named "China's Sustainable Development Demonstration Enterprise". During the SARS epidemic in 2003, 3M donated 500,000 N95 masks to the national anti-SARS epidemic through the Shanghai Municipal Government.

In 2004, 3M opened its fifth production base in Suzhou, China. In 2005, 3M China R&D Center, one of the fourth largest R&D centers in the world, was completed in Shanghai. In 2006, 3M established a South China production base in Guangzhou, becoming its sixth production base in China. 2007

In 2006, 3M was rated as a "Double Excellent" enterprise for foreign investment in Shanghai. In 2007, 3M's eighth production base started construction in Jinshan Shanghai Chemical Industry Park. During the "Wenchuan" earthquake in 2008, 3M China, 3M Fund and other regional subsidiaries donated money.

The cumulative value of donations exceeds RMB 10 million.

In 2008, 3M China won the title of "Shanghai Foreign-Invested Advanced Technology Enterprise" for twenty consecutive years. In 2009, 3M Jinshan Factory was officially put into operation. In 2009, 3M China won the "2009 China Green Economy Award" by Business Weekly. In 2009, 3M Shanghai Pujiang Asia Pacific Medical

The product production base and Jinshan special materials production base were officially put into operation. In 2009, 3M became the first sponsor of the US Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. In 2010, 3M China successfully completed its first acquisition project in history - the acquisition of Hangzhou Aojie Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.

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In 2010, the 3M Asia Pacific Design Center was established in the 3M China R&D Center. In 2011, the 3M Southwest China Technology Center opened in Chongqing.

In 2011, 3M China won the Special Recognition Award for "The Most Leading Company" in the Asia-Pacific region.

Construction of 3M Materials Technology Co., Ltd. in Hefei started in 2011. It is 3M's largest single investment production base construction project in China to date.

In 2011, 3M China won the Special Recognition Award for "The Most Leading Company" in the Asia-Pacific region.