In 2024, the Chongqing High-tech Zone in Western China (Chongqing) Science City presented a remarkable scientific and technological innovation report. The zone's R&D investment intensity exceeded 5.5%, securing the top position in the city's annual innovation report. A total of 346 scientific research platforms at or above the municipal level have been established, including 23 at the national level. The zone has also attracted over 150 innovation and entrepreneurship talents at or above the municipal level. Its ranking among national high-tech zones has climbed to 27th, marking continuous progress since its independent operation began in 2020.
The Speed of Scientific and Technological Innovation Behind the Hard Data
The three major platforms in the Science City have played a key role, showcasing particularly impressive performances.
Jinfeng Laboratory, with the goal of becoming an "International Centre for Pathological Sciences Research," has brought in 5 academician-led teams and 23 national-level talents. The laboratory has published 196 SCI-indexed papers and facilitated the development of the "Fluorescence Brightfield Digital Slide System," which has received the Class II medical device certificate and entered mass production. This system has provided over 700 precision diagnostic services to 39 hospitals. According to the laboratory's leadership, "We have transitioned from 'individual operations' to 'collaborative group efforts,' significantly boosting the efficiency of transforming research achievements."
Leveraging a top-tier team from Tsinghua University, Qing'an Energy Storage has successfully tackled the thermal runaway issue in liquid-cooled energy storage systems. The company has implemented a 1GWh project and launched the industry's first direct-cooled energy storage system, which has been operating stably for 4,000 hours with an energy-saving rate exceeding 40%. Additionally, its virtual power plant project, in collaboration with the Urban Transportation Group, generates annual revenues exceeding 10 million yuan through "peak-valley arbitrage." "From laboratory patents to production-line products, we have demonstrated the 'acceleration of Science City,'" said a proud representative of the company.
Qing'an Energy Storage, supported by the elite team from Tsinghua University, has overcome the thermal runaway issue in liquid-cooled energy storage systems. It has successfully launched a 1GWh project and the industry's first direct-cooled energy storage system, which has been operating stably for 4,000 hours with an energy-saving rate of over 40%. Its virtual power plant project, in collaboration with the Urban Operation Group, has generated annual revenue exceeding 10 million yuan through "peak-valley arbitrage" strategies. "We have transitioned from laboratory-derived patents to production-line products at an astonishing pace, which we call the 'Science City acceleration,'" said the enterprise representative.
Create a Scientific and Technological Innovation Ecosystem
Facing 2025, Chongqing High-tech Zone in Western China (Chongqing) Science City has outlined its commitment to fostering the integration of the innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains, alongside improved coordination between the government, industry, society, and enterprises. With this in mind, it will introduce three key measures:
The Science City will systematically develop a top-level design to ensure that scientific and technological innovation platforms can operate with minimal burdens. This year, it plans to enhance the “Administrative and Service Measures for Sci-Tech Innovation Platforms” and establish a “full life-cycle” management mechanism. A key initiative is the reform of “appropriation-investment integration,” which will allow fiscal funds to be converted into state-owned equity. As part of this, when sci-tech innovation platforms introduce and cultivate market-financed projects, the government will provide support by “waiving certain benefits,” shifting from a “subsidy-based” model to a “self-sustaining” approach. “Our aim is to empower platforms to boldly venture into 'uncharted areas' without concerns,” emphasized the relevant official.
The Science City aims to employ a "financial combination punch" to revitalise the "pool of spring water" for scientific and technological innovation. It will continue to explore innovative financial products such as "investment-first-then-equity" and "gradient loans for science-based enterprises," with a focus on supporting early-stage and hard-tech projects. By building a matrix of "patient capital" and establishing a "Science and Technology Finance Alliance" in collaboration with R&D platforms, banks, universities, and enterprises, the city is committed to promoting innovation. "Just like planting trees, we need to water the seedlings and protect the forest as it grows," explained an official from the Administrative Committee of Chongqing High-tech Industrial Development Zone. Currently, products like the Knowledge-Value-based Credit Loan in the Science City have provided credit lines of over 500 million yuan to more than 30 enterprises.
In 2025, another key initiative for the Science City will be promoting a "two-way convergence" between University Town and the Science City. The Science City plans to establish a National Regional Technology Transfer and Transformation Center for universities and encourage collaborative efforts between universities and enterprises to jointly build concept-validation platforms. This will help transform university research papers into production-line processes. Professor Wang Lei from the School of Mechanical Engineering at Chongqing University remarked, "In the past, the combination of industry, academia, and research felt like a forced match, but now it has become a voluntary union!"
Source: Chongqing Daily
Editor: Peng Guangrui