NETDA aims to establish first-class YRD innovation hub

A bird's-eye view of NETDA. [Photo provided by Bao Leibing for en.nantong.gov.cn]

Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area, or NETDA, has recently carried out strategic cooperation with eight universities and institutes to boost the construction of a first-class innovation hub in the Yangtze River Delta.

Material industry is one of the key industrial clusters in the development area and, in 2023, the industry generated over 50 billion yuan ($6.95 billion) in output. Kingwills, a leading new material company in NETDA, has partnered with Soochow University to build a research institute for technological upgrading and achievement transformation.

NETDA has cooperated with the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University to promote the innovative research of key technologies and their application in new-generation information technology industry.

The development area has also worked with the Yangtze River Delta Frontier Information Technology Institute of Tsinghua University to focus on advanced communication, photoelectric chips, and AI.

Innovation serves as the cornerstone of industries, and the favorable innovation environment in NETDA, hailing from the deep integration of innovation and industries, is a crucial component of its first-class business environment. This dynamic setting has inspired many local businesses to increase their investment, exemplified by edible flavor and fragrance supplier Givaudan.