The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone is also known as China Speech Valley and Quantum Center. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone in Hefei, capital of Anhui province.

The zone has been a pioneer in science and technology innovation since it was ratified as one of the first national high-tech zones in 1991. It has for the past seven years been named among the top 10 national high-tech zones in China.

Following its establishment, the zone formed a high-tech industrial system comprising 395 enterprises in 1995. After years of robust development, the zone is now home to over 50,000 sci-tech enterprises, including 1,900 national high-tech enterprises, and has become the most innovation resource-intensive area in Anhui province.

At the end of 2020, the zone housed 237 research and development platforms above the provincial-level.

The zone is also known as the China Speech Valley for its artificial intelligence industry, which is led by intelligent voice technology company iFlytek, and as the Quantum Center for its pioneering quantum technology industry.

In recent years, the zone has made many major innovation breakthroughs in the fields of quantum technology, artificial intelligence and integrated circuits.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, the zone will continue to prioritize innovation and make good use of science and technology resources in the zone to foster more innovative technological achievements that possess global influence.

By 2035, the zone is expected to be at the forefront of global high-tech parks, become the core hub of the global innovation and entrepreneurship network, an important source of global original technology and industry, a driver of China's development into an innovative country, and realize the vision of being a "wealthy, harmonious and beautiful high-tech zone".