Chongqing - Chongqing Municipality has unveiled its ambitious plans to accelerate its national stature as a science and technology innovation hub, aiming to become a pioneer of talent and innovation in western China. 

Recent information from a press conference on October 19 showed a significant surge in research and development (R&D) expenditure, reflecting the city's commitment to this vision.

The cityscape of Chongqing. (Photo/ Jiangbei District)

A 27.3% growth in R&D expenditure

From January to August, R&D expenses of industrial enterprises above the designated size in Chongqing reached 35.24 billion yuan (4.8 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 27.3% growth year-on-year. Furthermore, the city's R&D investment intensity reached 2.36 in 2022, a gain of 0.2 percentage points. With these figures, Chongqing stands at the top in Western China and debuted in the top 10.

Ming Ju, the director of Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, highlighted significant events in the city's innovation journey. With the collaborative effort of 40 departments, the city has forged significant partnerships, such as a joint laboratory with Singaporean universities and the signing of the Cooperation Memorandum on Innovation and Technology between Hong Kong and Chongqing.

The city's nurturing of innovation mainstays is evident, with over 11,642 new science and technology-based enterprises established. Moreover, Chongqing will have over 55,000 such enterprises by the end of the year. In high-tech, 1,824 enterprises have applied to the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the city is optimistic about breaching the 7,000 mark this year.

Chongqing-based firms such as Xishan Tech, a leading national enterprise specializing in the R&D and sales of digital minimally invasive surgical tools, and Genrix Bio, an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on antibody drug development, have been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's sci-tech innovation board.

First BRI Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone

Chongqing now boasts ten national key laboratories and has set up 18 new municipal technology innovation centers. In the first three quarters, the industrial output from the 16 high-tech zones in the city, totaling 950 billion yuan (about 129.9 billion U.S. dollars), shows a robust 6.9% growth year-on-year.

Remarkable achievements in core technology research and development have been made, from Southwest University's innovative use of silkworm silk glands to synthesize recombinant human serum albumin to Chongqing University's pioneering method enhancing reverse battery efficiency.

Furthermore, the city's openness to collaboration has taken a significant step forward. The country's first Belt and Road Initiative Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone landed in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. The region collaborates extensively with over 60 countries, initiating numerous training courses, projects, and joint R&D institutions.

This strategic commitment to innovation paints a promising picture for Chongqing, marking its ascent as a national leader in science and technology.