At the Western (Chongqing) Science City, researchers observed and recorded the growth of a new tilapia breed. (Photo/Xinhua)

Chongqing - Chongqing has launched 48 challenge-based, city-funded science and technology project calls across 12 key industries, offering over 300 million yuan (about 42 million U.S. dollars) in total funding, including 26 major projects each exceeding 5 million yuan (around 700,000 U.S. dollars).

A representative from the Chongqing Municipal Economy and Information Technology Commission explained that these challenge-based projects primarily target emerging industries such as digital and intelligent technology, life sciences and health, new materials, and green and low-carbon sectors. 

They focus on addressing critical constraints. The released projects primarily serve Chongqing's “33618” Modern Manufacturing Cluster System and "416" technology innovation strategy layout. 

For example, Chongqing University's Jialingjiang Laboratory released the project challenge of developing an intelligent robotic operation for complex underground environments. It seeks new solutions and task execution plans for robots to work in Chongqing's underground space, where confined environments and poor lighting conditions pose high risks for manual labor.

The Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau released a challenge to research and apply key technologies for privacy protection and high-security anti-counterfeiting in intelligent vehicle components. This project aims to develop new protection for sensitive data, such as the massive amount of driving and biometric data generated during the use of smart vehicles. 

Simultaneously, the project will tackle challenges in authentication and traceability for smart vehicle components with anti-counterfeiting, to make Chongqing-made smart vehicles more trustworthy and secure.

Chongqing encourages universities, research institutes, enterprises, and innovation consortia with strong R&D capabilities to join the bidding, requiring applicants to have solid scientific ethics, good credibility, and independent legal status, while also promoting collaboration across the industry chain and joint applications among multiple partners.

Relevant departments will release technical requirements and select the most qualified to undertake the challenges. For enterprise-funded projects, entities may freely apply and directly negotiate with the issuing entity. Government-funded projects require the selected entity to apply to the local government where the project is located. These government-funded projects will then all go through municipal management procedures for scientific research.