WEDZ firms' R&D expenditure sets historical high

The total expenditure on research and development of companies based in WEDZ in 2021 exceeded 10 billion yuan ($1.53 billion) for the first time in history. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]

R&D investment is a crucial indicator of scientific and technological strength. Last year, Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ) boasted a total R&D investment of 12 billion yuan, up nearly 51 percent on a yearly basis, according to data released by the zone's statistics bureau on April 25.

There were 307 "Sishang" enterprises (referring to enterprises above a designated size in the industry, real estate, construction, wholesale and retail, accommodation and catering sectors) which had launched different levels of research activities in 2021.

Five companies – Dongfeng Auto, ECARX Intelligence Technology Co, VOYAH Automobile Technology Co, Wuhan Construction Engineering Group Co, and Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co – reported research costs over 600 million yuan last year.

Over the same period, the zone became home to more than 500 high-tech firms, 2.5 times more than in 2016.

SiEngine Technology Co, for example, posted an average annual R&D investment of about 400 million yuan, and has launched the "Dragonhawk One" – a seven-nanometer intelligent cockpit chip last year, which is a technological breakthrough that fills the void in high-end automobile chips, and is expected to achieve mass production in the third quarter of this year.