Many people know semiconductor lasers and light-emitting diode chips are high-tech products, but are unaware of how they affect our daily lives. Those products are widely used in hospitals, supermarkets and community-wide; they are installed in mobile phones and computer screens and autonomous driving technology.

"Where there are lights, there will be semiconductor lasers or LED chips," said Zheng Tiemin, chairman of Inspur Huaguang.

Inspur Huaguang is the electronic arm of Chinese server maker Inspur Group. The Weifang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone has provided support to Inspur Huaguang in attracting talented professionals in the construction of infrastructure.

For its part, Inspur Huaguang has introduced advanced production facilities to complete an industrial chain for the manufacturing of epitaxial wafers and optoelectronic products.

Inspur Huaguang introduced the first independently developed semiconductor light-emitting chips in China in 2002, ending the country's reliance on imports of related products. It has become one of the major semiconductor laser producers in China and has maintained a leading position in terms of production and sales volume. Its blue LED technology represents a high standard in the country.

The management of Inspur believes technology innovation has been a key element in supporting its growth in recent decades. Highly skilled technology development professionals have been useful in its research and development process. As a result, the company has partnered with research and development institutes to ensure their development results can meet the market demand.

Wang Chengxin, deputy general manager of Inspur Huaguang, who is also an overseas returnee, said the company has partnered with Shandong University to industrialize cutting-edge technologies that could be used in the LED production, such as the single crystal wafer technology and a blue LED technology.

Inspur Huaguang has also joined forces with Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Changchun University of Science and Technology, to support the national 863 Program, a national-level high-tech research program initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

"A professional technology team is the foundation to advance independent innovation," Zheng said.

Inspur Huaguang has developed a research team that consists of experts and scholars representing the forefront of China's sciences.

It has also established long-term technology cooperation with research organizations such as Shandong University.

To date, Inspur Huaguang has registered 278 patents, of which 149 are invention patents. Those patents are widely used in sectors such as laser sensors, LED lighting, smart manufacturing, security monitoring and the internet of things. Those patents have created more than 10 billion yuan worth of economic benefit for society, according to the company.

Some of Inspur Huaguang's clients' products have been sold to countries in North America, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Wang Lian contributed to this story.