Sci-tech innovation boosts industrial transformation in SND

No 209 Zhuyuan Road in Suzhou New District, where the China Suzhou Innovation Park is located, is always crowded with people and vehicles during morning rush hour.

As the first incubator of science and technology enterprises in Suzhou, the park started operating in 1994 and has incubated seven listed enterprises, 250 high-tech enterprises, and one unicorn enterprise, cultivated 585 leading innovative and entrepreneurial talents and introduced more than 22,000 high-tech professionals.

The park was hence honored with three national titles, including incubator for sci-tech enterprises, pioneer park for overseas students, and incubator for international enterprises. It was one of the few parks in China to win such honors.

SND has also designated over 100 research institutes, including the China Mobile Cloud Capacity Center, laying a solid foundation for the region's development.

"Over the past eight years, we have developed from a bare land with just a few employees to a company with over 3,000 people that generates billions of dollars in a 200,000-square-meter industrial park, becoming one of the most advanced and safest 'clouds' in China," said Wan Guoguang, chairman of the group.

"In addition to boasting a long-term vision and strategic layout, SND takes the initiative to help solve our production and management problems and support the daily lives of our employees."

Moreover, advanced colleges and universities in SND have brought new development impetus to the region.

Nanjing University's Suzhou Campus for instance, which has been planned for years, enrolled its first class of 500 undergraduates and 100 postgraduates this September and is expected to strengthen the total talent pool.

Suzhou Everbright Photonics Co, a leading domestic laser chip manufacturer, has also joined with the local government in establishing a semiconductor laser innovation research institute.

"The chips, though tiny, have greatly improved our daily lives. We hope the institute can help us attract global innovation resources in the field and hence build stronger industrial chains," said Min Dayong, chairman of the company.

SND is striving to become a leader in Suzhou's industrial sci-tech innovation, especially in the four emerging industries of medical apparatus, integrated circuits, software and information technology, and green and low-carbon industries.

Statistics show that from 2012 to 2021, SND's regional GDP doubled from 83.01 billion yuan to 167.58 billion yuan. It also realized 497.31 billion yuan in total fixed asset investment and 131.2 billion yuan in industrial investment in the past 10 years.