Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Zone becomes hot spot for Zhejiang-Shanghai business co-op

Workers assemble cars at the Geely Auto Ningbo Hangzhou Bay Manufacturing Plant, which is the largest production base, R&D center and talent cultivation base of Geely in China. [Photo/IC]

Ningbo Hangzhou Bay New Zone has become a hot spot for Zhejiang-Shanghai business cooperation thanks to supporting platforms established in the zone, said Cui Jun, executive vice-president of the Fudan University Ningbo Research Institute, on May 6. 

Back in 2013, the zone cooperated with the world-renowned university in Shanghai to establish a research institute and a technology innovation park in Ningbo for resource sharing between the two regions. 

Ding Butong, a young entrepreneur, established a bio-tech company at the Fudan Hangzhou Bay Technology Innovation Park after winning an innovation competition held by the university two years ago. The medical devices that have been developed by his company have entered more than 300 hospitals in Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou. 

"With the support of Fudan University and the administrative committee of the zone, our working efficiency is very high. All I need to do is focus on the research and development (R&D)," said Ding.

The Fudan University Ningbo Research Institute recently set up a 20,000-square-meter base in Shanghai to better meet the R&D needs of companies in the zone and Ningbo.

The institute and the administrative committee of the zone have jointly established a fund to support companies settling in the zone. Two thirds of the projects introduced by the institute have come from Shanghai.

"Ningbo has advanced processing and manufacturing industries, as well as mature supporting facilities. The fact that SAIC Volkswagen and Geely have settled in the zone boosted our business confidence," said Ge De, general manager of a lubricating oil purifier manufacturer settling in the zone.

The zone has introduced more than 30 projects from Shanghai since it was established nine years ago, bringing investment of 110 billion yuan ($16.26 billion) by Shanghai entrepreneurs. More than 1,280 high-caliber talents from Shanghai have been introduced.