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Scientific innovation key to development

By Song Wenwei (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-19 10:28

The combination of industry, academics and research has greatly promoted scientific innovation and economic development in Changzhou in the past few years, said Wang Chengbin, vice mayor of Changzhou in east China’s Jiangsu province.

Located in the Yangtze River Delta, Changzhou is one of the most economically developed cities in China, with strengths in the manufacturing industry.

“We realized that innovation is the key to seek fast and sustainable development, as science and technology develop at an unprecedented fast speed,” said Wang.

The city government made a decision in 2002 to establish Changzhou Science and Education Town (CSET), aimed at training higher vocational personnel and establishing cooperation among enterprises, universities and research institutes.

“Experience has proven that is the right decision, as we have already yielded good results in providing much needed personnel for many enterprises and achieving remarkable economic benefits,” said Wang.

There are now six colleges in CSET, including Changzhou Polytechnic University, Changzhou College of Information Technology, Changzhou Textile Garment Institute, and Changzhou Institute of Engineering Technology, with over 76,000 students.

Many of the students go on to work in companies and enterprises in Changzhou after they graduate, as the disciplines offered at the colleges are designed to cater to the needs of local economic development.

By training a large number of vocational technicians, these educational institutions have fostered close ties with well-known domestic and overseas universities, research institutes and enterprises, setting up research and development centers.

So far, the city has established dozens of R&D centers in collaboration with Tsinghua University, Peking University, Nanjing University, Southeast University and Jiangsu Yuanyu Electronics Group Company.

“The scientist, scholars and entrepreneurs have contributed to the flourishing of CSET and the economic growth of the city with their joint efforts by putting the research results into production,” said Wang.

The city government has been very active in doing their part by providing favorable policies, financial support and platforms for exchanges and cooperation between enterprises, universities and research institutes.

Since 2006, it has organized the annual Changzhou Advanced Manufacturing Technology Exhibition in May to provide an opportunity for people to exchange information, seek cooperation partners, ink business deals and realize industrialization research achievements.

“I believe that as long as we continue to improve the investment environment by providing better services and favorable policies, more enterprises will come together and join hands with research institutions and technology centers for more economic returns,” said Wang.

China Daily Jiangsu Bureau