Zhuhai charts specifics on being center of innovation

Ten or more leading enterprises valued at over 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) each are expected to locate in Zhuhai within the next five years. Moreover, there could be a hundred more multi-billion-yuan operations, thousand middle and small companies with growth potential, and two thousand hi-tech projects with gross industrial output value rising from 400 billion yuan ($60 billion) to 800 billion ($120 billion).

All this is outlined in the city's plan for innovation-driven development. To accommodate the growth, more than five innovation-based industrial clusters will be built, and at least that many international innovation and cooperation facilities, schools or bases. The city government is determined to play a key role in innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by 2021.

In order to become a top draw of innovative enterprises, a hi-tech industrial base, and a driving force of innovative economy, Zhuhai will focus on hi-tech and high-end equipment manufacture. 

Jinwan Maker Town

In addition, city officials will promote internationalization and opening-up by integrating into the global innovation network. This calls for closer cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao, and an array of collaborative innovation measures.

The plan also states that Zhuhai is to build 400 innovative sites of provincial level or above and incubate 50 R&D institutions with high scientific research capability. An ecological "smart" city will be in place by 2021, increasing the city's influence in the Greater Bay Area.

Zhuhai Southern Software Park [Photos courtesy South Plus]

Pending innovation projects include the Israel Overseas Innovation Center, Fudan University-Zhuhai Health Innovation Research Institute, National & Provincial Manufacturing Innovation Center, Zhuhai Intelligent Industrial Park, and Hengqin National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Operation Pilot Platform for Financial Innovation. Also on the work agenda are introduction and incubation of ten-billion-plus yuan ($1.5 billion) leading innovative enterprises, strategic transformation of Beijing Normal University Zhuhai, and enhanced funding of venture capital.