The scientific and technological breakthroughs being made by experts at University of Science and Technology of China are helping China catch up with the world's most advanced nations.

One of the remarkable achievements at USTC has been developing Micius, the world's first quantum science satellite, which was launched on Aug 16, 2016.

The 640-kilogram satellite - named after the ancient Chinese scientist and philosopher Micius, or Mozi - serves multiple scientific purposes, including testing the technology that distributes quantum keys, which can be used to encrypt data between the Earth's surface and space.

Thanks to the satellite, China has become the first country to establish photon entanglement at a distance of more than 1,200 kilometers between ground and space, paving the way for ultrasecure, long-distance quantum communications.

This was a huge step forward in the country's plan to build a space-based quantum communications network, scientists said.

"The satellite marked a transition in China's role from a follower in classic information technology development to one of the leaders guiding the future IT achievements," Pan Jianwei was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying. Pan is the executive vice-president of USTC and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who led the university's quantum communications team.

According to the university, the world's first 2,000-km quantum communications line went into formal operation last year, serving as the backbone connecting Beijing and Shanghai. And more breakthroughs in quantum communications are expected.

Due to the attenuation of optical fiber, relay stations are needed to extend the distance of quantum communications. There are more than 30 relay stations on the Beijing-Shanghai line, with an average of about 80 km between them, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Pan's research team is working to extend the distance between two stations to between 300 and 500 km, to cut the number of relay stations and overall costs.

China sees scientific innovation as a primary driving force for economic development. In recent years, the country has introduced a series of effective measures to improve its scientific and technological capabilities, especially core technologies in key sectors.

As a vital part of the strategy to build China into a country of innovation, USTC is firmly focused on the development of cutting-edge technologies. It has been hailed as one of the best universities in China for its science and technology research.

In addition to quantum communications, USTC has accomplished many other innovative projects, such as the Tiangong II space laboratory quantum key distribution test project, China's first dark matter particle exploration satellite Wukong, the multiphoton entanglement and interference measurement project, and the quantum entanglement and quantum cryptography communications project.

USTC has also played a leading role in nanotechnology, high-temperature superconductivity, speech technology, fire sciences and life sciences.

"USTC has attached great importance to the fusion and integration of disciplines, breaking the boundaries of subjects. This not only helps the disciplines develop to a higher level but also promotes scientific innovation," said Zhu Jiping, deputy director of USTC's science and research department.

"The university has constructed high-level labs, research facilities and institutions. These are all good platforms that allow scientists to explore and make original innovations in many unknown realms."

USTC is among the Chinese universities with the highest number of national-level labs and high-profile facilities for science research.

The university is currently building a new national lab for quantum technology alongside its two existing national labs: the National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory and the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale.

Other endeavors include exploration into integrating basic science and engineering with medicine. A faculty of life sciences and medicine is also being built in partnership with the Anhui provincial government, the National Health Commission and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Zhu Lixin and Fan Qiong contributed to the story

High-tech zone branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The High-tech zone branch of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University is a modern and comprehensive hospital integrating medical care, teaching, research, prevention, recovery and first-aid. Covering an area of 400,000 square meters, it was put into operation in October 2017. Its investment amount reaches two billion yuan ($291.5 million). A total of 2,000 beds are available, including 120 ICU beds. The annual number of outpatients is estimated to reach 1.5 million and the annual surgeries surpass 50,000. It is the only Anhui province facility to be listed as a top 80 national hospital, and ranks first among Anhui comprehensive hospitals.

The High-tech zone branch has five featured centers, including a cancer treatment center, a digestive disease center, a heart center, a trauma center and a maternal reproductive center.

The featured medical technologies of the hospital keep pace with international frontiers. The doctors and nurses can speak English, better serving foreign patients. What's more, the hospital is equipped with a medical rescue helicopter worth tens of millions, adding to its first-aid ability.

Address: at the intersection of Chuangxin Avenue and Wanshui Road, Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, Hefei, Anhui province

A farmer operates a drone to spray and fertilize his field in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, on May 31, 2018. [Photo/VCG]

HEFEI -- It is difficult for even veteran farmers to recognize every pest variety, making choosing the right pesticide to kill them difficult. But Chinese scientists have made the work as easy as using a smartphone to photo them.

A pest-recognizing application developed by the Hefei Intelligent Machine Institute with the Chinese Academy of Sciences has tested successful for recognizing over 50 varieties of rice pests.

Xie Chengjun with the program said excessive use of pesticide and a lack of pest monitoring and farming technology support for farmers were the primary problems in China's agriculture.

He said the application developed with artificial intelligence technology and a database of 1 million pictures of pests could immediately match the photo with pictures in its memory, diagnose pest types and give tips on how to accurately use pesticide to control the damage.

"The system will provide strong support to help the country reach the goal of curbing the growth of pesticide use by 2020," Xie said.

He said the institute had teamed up with experts from the Anhui Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences to rapidly extend the system's applications to recognize more pest varieties in agricultural plants ranging from wheat, corn, soybean, to rapeseed, vegetables and fruit trees.

The Hefei Innovation Industrial Park is the largest innovation platform in East China’s Anhui province, with a registered capital of 2.26 billion yuan ($329.1 million) and a contracted occupancy rate of 95 percent. There are now 205 enterprises, including China Technology Exchange, Huaan Securities Co, Fuchun Communications Co, Anhui Guohua Optoelectronic Technology Co, Xiaomi, Inspur, and Cisco, in the park. 

Hefei Innovation Industrial Park is the first phase of the Hefei Innovation Platform Project. It is located in the hinterland of the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, with Wenqu Road in the east, Wangjiang West Road in the south, ChuangxinAvenue in the west and Qianshui East Road in the north. Sitting in the core of the Hefei’s demonstration area of the national science and technology innovation pilot project, the industrial park covers 205,333 square meters, with a total construction area of about 550,000 square meters. It is a comprehensive park which serves as the Hefei-Wuhu-Bengbu science and technology innovation service center, a national animation and service outsourcing industry base, a university science and technology park and a public safety industry base as well as a residence for its many workers.

Hefei Innovation Industrial Park [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Hefei Innovation Industrial Park [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The second phase of the Hefei Innovation Industrial Park is located at the intersection of Chuangxin Avenue and Yunfei Road in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. It covers 191,333 square meters of land, with 710,000 square meters of construction area. The total investment of the project is about 2.5 billion yuan, which was mainly used in building a scientific research cluster base, a scientific and technological consultation base, an incubator, an accelerator and a public service center. 

The park will focus on attracting technology-based enterprises in emerging and high-tech industries such as electronic information, new energy, new materials, energy conservation and environmental protection, public safety, cultural creativity, IC design and Internet Technology, as well as various financial, science and technology intermediaries and modern service enterprises. 

The park plans to attract more than 500 enterprises to generate an annual output value exceeding six billion yuan.

Beijing and Shanghai lead the nation in artificial intelligence development, with highlighted policy support from the local government in particular, according to a report released by Chinese research company CCID Consulting.

The report covered nearly 40 Chinese cities, which have raced to build up their AI industries, and was based on the evaluation of more than 40 indicators, including policy support, scientific research, key laboratories and financing.

Hangzhou surpassed Shenzhen to take third place, and Hefei claimed the fifth spot.

Here's the full list of China's top 10 cities in terms of AI development.

No 10 Nanjing

A homestay flat with a see-through enclosure that allows guests to see the sky in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on May 9, 2018. [Photo/VCG]