【Dynamic Decade】Rugao makes progress in scientific, technological innovation

As of May 2022, the output value of enterprises involved in high-tech industries in Rugao, Nantong, Jiangsu province accounted for 50.96 percent of the output value of all industrial enterprises above designated size, an increase of 6.16 percent over the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) period.

Rugao is currently home to 316 high-tech enterprises, an increase of 750 percent compared with the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) period, 574 newly cultivated technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, 14 gazelle enterprises, and two potential unicorn enterprises.

Over the past two years, Rugao has given unprecedented incentives to science and technology enterprises.

Dong Yu, deputy director of the Rugao science and technology bureau, said: "Last year, 23 science and technology incentive policies were issued, and 30 have been issued so far this year. The total value of incentives and subsidies has also increased from 30 million yuan ($4.43 million) last year to 100 million now."

Since 2016, a total of 144 million yuan in municipal-level scientific and technological innovation incentives have been issued. The pre-tax additional deductions for enterprises' R&D expenses have totaled 3.45 billion yuan and income tax deductions for high-tech enterprises have reached 862 million yuan.

In addition, these science and innovation policies have attracted more and more talent to Rugao.

For example, Tima, a professor from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, came to Jiangsu Zorrun Semiconductor Co Ltd in August last year and is currently in charge of the company's optical-grade diamond application project.