Over the past six years since the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region became a national strategy, the Jiading district in Shanghai, along with Kunshan and Taicang ― county-level cities of Suzhou, Jiangsu province ― have collaborated to become a key force in driving the high-quality development of the YRD region.

Technovation Valley, one of the innovation hubs in Taicang. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

By the end of 2023, the region has attracted over 6,700 high-tech enterprises, yielding a total output value that exceeds 970 billion yuan ($136.32 billion). The industrial output derived from industrial enterprises above the designated size has surpassed 1.9 trillion yuan, with strategic emerging industries contributing nearly 990 billion yuan.

In addition, the region is increasingly becoming a magnet for technological and innovative resources. The Scientific Technology Fair for the Yangtze River Delta Region, jointly organized by Jiading, Kunshan, and Taicang, has attracted over 1,000 research institutions and technology companies, generating approximately 1.2 billion yuan in technology transactions.

The National Innovation Center par Excellence (NICE), a comprehensive national technology innovation center jointly established by Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces, has set up eight research and development centers, eight major projects, 20 joint innovation centers for enterprises, and two local service centers in the region.

Wu Zhuangchun, deputy director of the Regional Cooperation Department at NICE, highlights Jiading's rich industrial and technological resources in automotive, integrated circuits, and biomedicine and Kunshan and Taicang's strengths in electronics, equipment manufacturing, and advanced materials. He believes that with the deepening of cross-regional and cross-sectoral cooperation, the Jiading-Kunshan-Taicang region is poised to become a hub for industrial development.