Weihai hi-tech park drives innovation through industry–university collaboration

In Weihai Torch Hi-tech Science Park, innovation is fueling a new wave of high-quality development as enterprises, universities, and research institutions work hand in hand to overcome technical bottlenecks and bring advanced products to market.

At Shandong Keju Pharmaceutical, production is in full swing on a new line processing American ginseng concentrate worth 1 million yuan (about $140,000) and featuring an unprecedented 15 percent ginsenoside content. The achievement stems from a joint research effort between Keju Pharmaceutical and the Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai), which optimized extraction techniques to increase both yield and purity. The collaboration boosted extraction efficiency by more than 30 percent and total ginsenoside concentration by 50 percent, driving the product's total output value past 6 million yuan.

At Shandong Keju Pharmaceutical, production is in full swing on a new line processing American ginseng concentrate featuring an unprecedented 15 percent ginsenoside content. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This breakthrough reflects Weihai Hi-tech Park's broader innovation strategy. In recent years, the park's Science and Technology Bureau has rolled out targeted initiatives to enhance the innovation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises. Under Shandong province's SME innovation capacity enhancement program, the park secured 26.95 million yuan in provincial funding to support 69 companies and 79 research projects — helping local firms strengthen R&D and advance industrial upgrading.

By combining supportive policies, dedicated funding, and close cooperation between academia and industry, Weihai Torch Hi-tech Science Park is turning scientific research into real-world results. Its growing cluster of specialized, high-tech enterprises is fast becoming a vital engine for industrial transformation and technological advancement in coastal Shandong. (Edited by Hu Kaili)