An agreement on a mine water resources utilization project was reached recently at Xinwen Industrial Park in Tai'an, Shandong province.

The project was jointly initiated by the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, as well as the national industrial water treatment and engineering technology research center.

The project will integrate industrial water supply, sewage treatment, reclaimed water reuse, and landscape water bodies to promote the comprehensive utilization of water resources in the industrial park. It aims to save about 120 million yuan ($17.6 million) in water costs annually for the industrial park and decrease the amount of sewage discharge to the lowest amount possible.

Since Tai'an has become one of the first pilot cities for the "Science and Innovation" campaign initiated by the China Association for Science and Technology, it has strived to promote the deep integration of technology and economic development.

Tai'an has established cooperative relations with over 100 academicians and experts, as well as 55 national societies like the China Textile Engineering Society and the China Highway & Transportation Society. It has served 811 enterprises and generated 4.6 billion yuan in economic benefits, according to updated statistics.

"It is necessary to form a pattern of economic development by strengthening technology support," said Zhang Tao, mayor of Tai'an.

The integration of technology and economy provides momentum to the innovation of enterprises. One example is the composite materials research institute in Shandong, which was jointly established by the Chinese Society for Composite Materials, Sinoma Science & Technology Co, and the Tai'an municipal government.