Shenzhen has emerging markets in sight for its high-tech exports

More high-tech products and technologies developed in Shenzhen will be shipped to emerging markets along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, a senior local researcher said.

"We will strengthen cooperation with local enterprises that have businesses in Southeast Asia and Africa to boost exports," said Fan Jianping, director of the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology.

The institute has helped develop more than 200 high-tech companies that mostly manufacture products to meet demand in countries and regions along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, according to Fan.

The institutes jointly established by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shenzhen government and Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2006 have six subsidiary divisions and several labs for research into robots, healthcare, new energy and materials, big data and cloud computing.

The institutes have developed a healthcare industrial park in Longgang district of Shenzhen where more than a dozen companies work on development of low-cost medical equipment.

"The medical equipment has sold well in emerging markets including Southeast Asia and Africa," said Fan.

He added that a number of enterprises have also started to develop electric cars and pedicabs to meet demand in those regions.

"They are solar powered to meet the need for efficient vehicles in emerging markets," Fan said.

Fan said the institutes "will work closely with local enterprises to help them develop market-tailored high-tech products".

The Shenzhen institutes signed a series of agreements with overseas and domestic institutes and enterprises during the China Hi-tech Fair in Shenzhen to develop new technologies and booming Internet-related services.

The institutes have launched an international center in the Nanshan district of Shenzhen to encourage researchers to design and develop market-oriented products.

"Enterprises are encouraged to participate in the center to better upgrade their products for the future market," Fan said.

A leading city in innovation and high-tech industrial development, Shenzhen has also outlined a plan to support development of the biomedicine and healthcare industries.

Fan's institutes have signed an agreement with the McGovern Brain Institute affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to jointly start a cognitive and brain disorder research institute.

The new institute will include 16 leading international research scientists, said Fan.

"We will focus on research into key industries such as the health and biomedical sectors to support local economic development."

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/20/2014 page12)