WHDZ attracts 21 key projects worth 1.2b yuan

A total of 21 new materials and intelligent manufacturing projects worth more than 1.2 billion yuan ($171 million) are to settle in Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, with a signing ceremony held on Nov 29, according to the official WeChat account of the WHDZ.

Among the 21 key projects, the Megawatt-level Distributed Hydrogen Power Generation Project and the Plasma Intelligent Manufacturing Technology Project are academician team ventures.

A total of 28 scientific research institutions -- including the Institute of Metal Research, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics and the Shenyang Institute of Automation -- released details of some 150 of their latest achievements at the event.

Seven projects hosted roadshows, including the Intelligent Microcapsule Project.

One featured intelligent microcapsule technology, developed by Wang Zhengping, an academician from Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Wang said it can be widely used in smart clothing, wearables, embedded devices and medical implants.

In addition, the event saw the signing of the new Wuhan Institute of Advanced Technology, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is to be co-developed by the WHDZ and Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, also part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Wuhan Institute of Advanced Technology will be the first new research and development institution for the CAS to be settled in the WHDZ.

It will focus on the field of electronic materials and intelligent manufacturing.

Officials said it is committed to achieving breakthroughs in some key materials and technologies.

They said it is expected to provide strong technological support for the development of strategic emerging industries and the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries in the WHDZ.