This study aims to explore and understand the role of return migrants in the regional innovation system of a transition economy (China) by analyzing the activities of returning entrepreneurs in two emerging high-tech industries in Shanghai. The empirical analysis is based on in-depth interviews with founders of high-tech companies and experts in Shanghai. The results of the analysis reveal that return migrants are a significant factor for the Shanghai innovation system, which is presently in a transition from a former manufacturing site to a metropolitan region comprising a range of industries (including high-tech) and services. First of all, return migrants are important for the Shanghai RIS in terms of numbers. Second, they engage in activities in the medium range of high-tech which reflects prevailing weaknesses of the framework conditions for innovation in Shanghai. However, due to their international background, returning entrepreneurs are able to overcome these weaknesses, and thus contribute to the development of high-tech industries in Shanghai and to a reduction of the technological lock-in.