Chunsun (left), a new landmark in Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, and the iconic calla lily-shaped building (right) in East Lake High-tech Development Zone. [Photo provided to chinaopticsvalley.com]

Li Feng, a senior official from the 103 Incubator in Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, said that during the first quarter of this year, 21 startup companies have agreed to move into the incubator, among which 20 percent are based in East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC).

The figure demonstrates the resolve of WHDZ and OVC to work together. In fact, the establishment of the incubator is a result their joint efforts – it was founded by Lei Jun, CEO of China's smartphone maker Xiaomi, and Li Ruxiong, president of Wuhan Guanggu Software Co based in OVC, and is the first privately-owned incubator in WHDZ.

"The reason we moved from OVC to WHDZ is that the zone is the core manufacturing area in Wuhan, and it will bring us closer to our target clients," said Yu Jianqiang, a manager of Wuhan Huize Xinneng Electric Technology Co, whose parent company is in OVC.

In response to the chip shortage in China, Auto Valley is currently working together with Optics Valley of China to develop automotive chips, and carmaker Dongfeng from WHDZ is currently laying out a joint car chip laboratory with Wuhan Fisilink Microelectronics Technology Co, an IC design enterprise in OVC.

iFLYTEK Co – a domestic AI giant – has also deployed businesses involving healthcare, hydropower, government affairs and industries in WHDZ and OVC.

Also worth noting is that two months ago, Optics Valley of China announced its plan to build an intelligent connected vehicle industrial park, to upgrade its "optics, IC, displays, terminals and internet" industrial cluster.

In addition, the bus route from WHDZ directly to OVC is expected to begin operating next month, and Wuhan's Metro Line 17 will boost the connection of OVC and Zhuankou area.