Science city groundbreaking heralds new start

Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, is well on its way to becoming a technological hub in western China by promoting an overall innovation progress centered on technical innovation.

A groundbreaking ceremony for Beihang Western International Innovation Port took place on April 7 in the Chengdu Science City, following the signing of a cooperation agreement between Beihang University and the Chengdu government.

The science city has attracted many research and development projects with investment from such prestigious universities as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Tongji University and Sichuan University.

With the total investment amount hitting 10 billion yuan ($1.45 billion), the Beihang project includes an innovation institute, an innovation park, a graduate school and an international exchange center.

It not only focuses on researching space data, aerospace function materials, 3-D printing technology and nano-electronics, but also considers the healthcare industry a future priority.

Fang Jiancheng, deputy head of Beihang University, said that about 90 percent of high-end medical devices and instruments used in China are imported. So, the university plans to reduce such dependence by making related technical breakthroughs and easing the pressure brought about by the country's aging population.

Currently, the innovation port has brought in six teams led by six academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Their research will concentrate on Chengdu's strategic emerging industries.

Wang Huaming's team, for example, specializes in 3-D printing technology. "Wang's team always has its eyes on the most difficult fields of 3-D printing," Fang said. This time, the team plans to apply the technology to aircraft large and complex metal components, as well as rockets, high-speed trains and underwater vehicles.

Xu Huibin's team focuses on special aerospace materials; Jiang Lei's team focuses on bionic materials; and the team led by Fang himself focuses on quantum sensing applications.

"If governments want university-led projects that can create GDP growth in a short time, it could easily lead to an overcapacity problem," Fang said.

Beside the nameplate of Beihang innovation port is the sign of an energy internet research institute established by Tsinghua University.

The institute focuses on integrating energy production, transmission, storage and consumption with the market and the internet.

Sichuan is a clean energy production demonstration province and has great technology atmosphere, Liu Yi, assistant to the dean of the institute, said. That's why the institute chose Chengdu, he added.

It has three office buildings beside Xinglong Lake. Several research teams have already moved into the first building, and the other two buildings, each covering 10,000 square meters, will be put into use in August.

A new energy automotive technology research center was recently inaugurated at the institute. Depending on the institute's technological advantages, the center aims to solve key problems such as efficient interconnection, information security and big data application between electric vehicles and electric networks.

Attracting high-quality research teams is one of Liu's major tasks.

He said the institute has already introduced 11 teams and plans to bring in seven or eight more teams this year. By then, it will be home to more than 300 researchers.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/10/2017 page6)