Guangdong aims to accelerate innovation

Guangdong province, an economic powerhouse in South China, plans to create a globally influential industrial and technological innovation center by building more innovation platform carriers in 2026, a senior government official said on Monday.

"We will establish a world-class source of scientific and technological innovation by accelerating construction of an international science and technology innovation center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and a comprehensive national science center," said Guangdong Governor Meng Fanli.

Delivering a government work report to the local annual legislative meeting in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, Meng said efforts would be made to introduce more national key laboratories to Guangdong.

The province will accelerate the development of innovation platforms that provide public and semi-public services based on universities, research institutions, enterprises, and associations, as well as innovation carriers that independently conduct various innovation activities within enterprises, universities, and research institutions.

The role of enterprises as the main entities of technological innovation will be strengthened, according to Meng.

"We will focus on enterprise needs by aligning more innovation resources such as platforms, projects, talent, and funding with businesses, making them the main entities in innovation decision-making, research investment, and the transformation of results," said Meng.

Efforts will be made to tackle key core technologies across the entire industrial chain in fields such as quantum technology, brain science and brain-computer interfaces, artificial intelligence, intelligent robotics, integrated circuits, advanced materials, and biomanufacturing, Meng said.

Based on its strong scientific and technological breakthroughs, Guangdong's regional GDP grew by 3.9 percent in 2025, maintaining its top position in the nation for the 37th consecutive year, according to the government work report.

A number of top science and technology, and innovative research institutes were established in Guangdong last year, including a new materials science and technology institute in Dongguan, a neutrino experiment station in Jiangmen, and a high-intensity heavy ion accelerator in Huizhou.

Additionally, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster has risen to the top globally. Eleven Guangdong-based companies have been included among the global top 100 publicly listed humanoid robot companies, and the low-altitude economy in the province has reached a scale of 20.61 million flights.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Guangdong established six national manufacturing innovation centers and three national industrial innovation centers. Of the 104 industrial products with a published national output, Guangdong accounts for more than 10 percent of the national total in 44 categories.

The establishment of technological platforms has helped greatly allocate innovative resources to emerging and traditional industries, according to Dong Zhengya, a researcher from the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory.

"We have established a robust mechanism for technology transfer, building innovative platforms such as pilot test bases for new businesses," said Dong, who is also a deputy to the Guangdong People's Congress.

The laboratory, based in Shantou, a coastal city in eastern Guangdong, has successfully developed nine young scientists into startup entrepreneurs and incubated ten high-tech enterprises over the past years.

Thanks to an improved innovation ecosystem in Shantou and empowerment provided by the provincial laboratory's platform, Dong started his own business in 2022.

His company has independently developed a microfluidics and ultrasonic microfluidic technology platform, providing comprehensive solutions ranging from precision equipment to innovative materials for industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, fine chemicals, and food and health products.

The company has developed rapidly since its establishment, with an average annual growth rate exceeding 120 percent over the past three years. It also plans to achieve a public listing within five years, according to Dong.

The laboratory has also collaborated with the local textile and apparel association in Shantou to establish a textile materials innovation center, helping promote transformation and upgrade through breakthroughs in core technologies of key traditional industries.

Shantou's production of underwear and loungewear and plastic toys accounts for nearly half and 70 percent of the national output, respectively, according to Dong.

The laboratory has successfully tackled technological challenges in nano-antibacterial materials for nylon melt spinning, helping significantly enhance the core competitiveness of Shantou's textile and apparel products. It has also established connections with the local toy association to provide technical support for material research and development, product modification, and intelligent production.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn