Latest technologies on display at fair

Fourth annual expo showcases best international designs in industries, WANG HONGYI reports.

The latest innovative technologies, products and development models from Shanghai's Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone are on display at the fourth China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair from Thursday through Saturday.

Approved by the State Council in 2011, the Zhangjiang demonstration zone now has 22 industry parks across Shanghai. These parks cover a total of 531 square kilometers with more than 70,000 science and technology enterprises and more than 1,400 research and development institutes. Each year, a large number of innovative research results come from Zhangjiang.

In addition to the new technologies, products and development models from Zhangjiang, a number of joint innovation achievements between Zhangjiang and regions with collaboration with Zhangjiang are on display at the fair.

More than 30 representative enterprises and institutions from the industry parks under the Zhangjiang demonstration zone are present at the event.

They are exhibiting their latest technologies, products and services relating to advanced equipment manufacturing, the new generation of information technology, biomedicines, new materials, Internet plus and big data, with some having an international influence, according to the zone's officials.

The cutting-edge technologies and products on show include a superconducting single photon detector developed by the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an electric aircraft that has the world's first electric power certificate for a manned aircraft, a medical big data network which connects hospitals and medical laboratory, an internationally leading capsule endoscope robot system, and an underwater robot.

Other leading technologies and products on display also include PET-CT medical imaging equipment, a new cross-laminated timber building material and intelligent fiber-laser marking machines for advanced manufacturing.

"These technologies and products fully demonstrate Zhangjiang's high innovative capability," said an official from the management committee of the Zhangjiang zone.

Some entertainment products that are interactive with visitors, such as virtual reality products and split-type televisions are also in the exhibition. "These products well interpret the fair's theme of 'technology makes life more wonderful'," the official said.

Globalization

In addition, Zhangjiang has an exhibition area to show its globalization strategy and its role in driving regional development.

In February, the Shanghai Zhangjiang Boston Enterprise Park was jointly launched by the management committee of the Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone and the US-China Partnership Committee in Boston, Massachusetts.

The park in Boston aims to provide a site for sharing innovative resources between China and the United States, to bring more professionals, technology, enterprises and capital to Shanghai and increase technological cooperation in technological, market expansion and capital operations between China and the United States. It also plans to help domestic firms go global.

Zhangjiang has worked on building new service platforms for science and technology professionals. To introduce more overseas talent and technologies, the city has established 18 talent incubators in 11 countries, including the US, Singapore, Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, India, Israel and Brazil, covering many science and technology innovation areas. With the help of such incubators, businesses, projects and teams have been introduced to Zhangjiang.

Regional cooperation

Zhangjiang also serves national development strategies, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration program, by exploring ways to establish cross-regional development with other cities.

For example, following the country's Belt and Road Initiative, Zhangjiang has joined in the construction of the Lanbai Science and Technology Innovation Pilot Zone in Gansu province.

Focusing on biomedicine and energy industries, the Zhangjiang park has established a technology transfer center and an enterprise incubator in the Lanbai zone. The move has played a model role for developed regions to support innovative development in the underdeveloped west of China.

Zhangjiang has also set up the Zhangjiang-Zhangjiakou High-Tech Industry Park in Hebei province.

With a planned area of 25.4 sq km, the Zhangjiakou park focuses on developing the new-generation information industry and industries for new energy, energy saving, environmental protection, intelligent manufacturing, healthcare and winter sports equipment. The first phase of the project, which covers 210,000 square meters, is in operation, with 28 key projects already settling there.

In addition, Zhangjiang has established a partnership with Suzhou in Anhui province, to strengthen collaboration between China's eastern and central regions.

The management committee of the Zhangjiang innovation zone reached a cooperation agreement with the Suzhou government, beginning to explore effective ways to promote coordinated regional development, including strengthening cooperation between parks under the Zhangjiang zone and Suzhou's industry zones.

Authorities in Zhangjiang hope to use their advantages in branding, capital, technology, personnel, finance and management to help promote Suzhou's development. Suzhou industry zones will also be incorporated into the development chain of the industry parks under the Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone.

Some innovative products from cooperative parks established by Zhangjiang and other cities are on display at the Shanghai International Technology Fair.

(China Daily European Weekly 04/22/2016 page9)