Shanxi province's science and technology department announced, on March 14, that it will be aggressively pushing low-carbon, innovative development this year in building science and technology innovation bases for breakthroughs in the coal industry and innovations in the coal industrial chain. The goal is to organically integrate science, technology, industrialization, and finance to greatly enhance the innovative ability of the coal industry and to make technological innovation the driving force for low-carbon development.

The construction of Shanxi science and technology innovation base plays a vital role in implementing the innovation-driven developing strategy of the province. It also the first project to speed up Shanxi’s industrial transformation and reform.

By following the work of demonstration zones such as Zhongguancun, the Shanxi innovation base will establish a new system of knowledge and talent, which supports innovation, and improves related services, to ultimate create an attractive, creative, rewarding environment for science and technology personnel.

The first group of construction projects will begin at the end of March, and the province will be developing three science and technology services in resources, business incubators, and financial support for a provincial science and technology - talent zone, a national coal innovation base, and hub for coal-based achievements and projects.

The province's science and technology sector will concentrate on three key industries -- coal, electronics, and new materials – with priority going to coal-to-chemicals, coal-bed methane, coal-coking, coal-based new materials, and low carbon technology to use its opportunities to promote low carbon innovation development. This year, it will carry out 16 key coal development projects, in accordance with coal company demands. The next step, then, is to introduce market competition in innovation ways through bidding.

In two to three years, Shanxi expects to see a breakthrough in clean coal conversion and utilization, integrated mine gas controls, carbon dioxide collection, and conservation, and to have scientific and technological support for the clean, safe, low-carbon, efficient development of the coal industry.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw