City plays to its strength in marine sector

National strategy to fast-track ocean enterprises with 21st century expertise, Hu Qing reports.

With the implementation of the nation's marine power strategy and Belt and Road Initiative, Qingdao is taking the lead in developing China's marine industry.

Leveraging its rich resources in marine science research and solid foundation in marine development, the city in Shandong province achieved marine gross domestic product (GDP) last year of 209 billion yuan ($31 billion), an increase of 15.1 percent from a year earlier. The marine sector now accounts for 22.5 percent of the city's total GDP.

By 2020, the marine industry is expected to account for 30 percent of the city's total GDP, according to the Development Plan on Qingdao Marine Plus (2015-2020).

"Qingdao was born for the sea and thrives from the sea," said Li Qun, Qingdao Party chief.

"We must undertake China's mission to develop the marine economy, and build Qingdao into a world-leading marine development center."

The city's marine strategy is mainly driven by three development zones: Blue Valley, a leading high-tech zone for marine research; the Hongdao Economic Zone, a significant part of China's innovative development strategy; and the West Coast New Area, which is pursuing several goals, including a deep sea exploration logistics base and a center for international cooperation in the marine economy.

Li said the transformation of the city's economy must start from its marine sector.

"So far, we have arranged 40 major projects involving the marine economy, and a total investment of 20 billion yuan will be put in place," he said.

Li said Qingdao will ensure innovation plays the lead role in its marine development.

The city is home to 30 percent of China's ocean research institutions, 50 percent of high-level research talents, and 70 percent of ocean scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Many innovative developments created in the city have been put into commercial use.

Chitin, a substance extracted from crab shells, is now used in textiles, and bandages and wound dressings because of its bacteriostatic and hemostatic effects. Scientists also extract hypotensors from seaweed, while waste from processing seaweed is made into organic fertilizer.

Since 2011, the city has cultivated 11 new marine farm breed varieties, five marine medicines and 200 functional products.

Here are some important oceanic institutes in Qingdao.

Blue Valley

Blue Valley, a new area in Jimo in eastern Qingdao, is a center for marine science and technology.

The area has attracted 210 projects in technology research and development, and manufacturing industries, of which 14 are national-level institutes and 16 are universities. These projects cover 7 million square meters. Last year, the area's output value was 6.32 billion yuan and its fixed asset investment was 22.75 billion yuan.

The new area has attracted 39,000 talents since 2012, 52 of whom are from overseas.

China National Deep Sea Center

Covering 26 hectares of land and 63 hectares of sea, the China National Deep Sea Center is a support station for deep sea facilities, including Jiaolong, China's manned submersible. After an initial investment of 500 million yuan, when completed the center will be the fifth of its kind in the world.

The center opened in March last year and will eventually include a construction and maintenance workshop, a scientific research building, a large pool for experimental dives, and training facilities. It has five berths to accommodate vessels weighing from 3,000 to 6,000 metric tons.

Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology

The Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology officially started operations in October last year.

Scientists from 11 marine-related organizations will be involved in the laboratory's research. With investment of 1.3 billion yuan, the laboratory has eight main labs focusing on research into marine and climate change, evolution and protection of marine environments, and sustainable use of marine biological resources.

It is expected to become one of the world's top five oceanographic research institutions within the next three years.

Ocean University of China

Administered by the Ministry of Education, the Ocean University of China (OUC) specializes in oceanography and fishery science. It has been approved as one of the national key universities for Project 985 and Project 211, two key projects intended to establish a number of world-class universities and colleges.

Using its advantages in marine-related and fishery sciences as well as in multi-disciplinary areas, OUC has become a cradle of marine professionals and a powerhouse for marine science advancement.

Contact the writer at huqing@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 07/05/2016 page6)