Anhui's innovation hub increases role in delta integration

The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone is home to the most high-tech enterprises in East China's Anhui province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With the most high-tech enterprises and innovation resources in Anhui province, the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone located in the provincial capital of Hefei has played a leading role in the integration of the Yangtze River Delta region.

In recent years, the zone has been seeking cooperation opportunities with Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang and working to promote collaborative innovation, industrial division, and industrial upgrading within the region, said Fang Xiangmin, a zone official.

Being an active participant in the integration of the delta benefits the zone in many ways. A number of high-level projects from other areas in the region have been established in the zone, resulting in 5 billion yuan ($706.36 million) in investment over the past three years.

As the zone enhances its presence in the region, its strategic emerging industries such as smart home appliances, next-generation information technology, and new energy have begun putting more and more of their focus on the region.

About 30 percent of the zone's major home appliances are sold within the region. Products made by iFlytek, Sun Create Electronics, Guozhen Environment Protection Technology, and other high-tech enterprises operating in the zone account for 40 percent of the market share of such products in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. In addition, communications enterprises in the zone provide electronic components to related industries throughout the region.

The zone is working to enhance its innovation capabilities and accelerate its industrial upgrading, goals that are in line with the latest development plan for the integration of the Yangtze River Delta region.

A national laboratory for quantum information science and technology is nearing completion in the zone. It is expected to achieve major technological breakthroughs, according to Tu Deng, a spokesperson for the project.

China Speech Valley, an AI industrial park located in the zone, has been included in the provincial government's key work plan for this year to help promote the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry and the development of strategic emerging industrial clusters, said Mao Yuanyuan, an operator of China Speech Valley.