Technology Center of Taiyuan Iron and Steel Co – the northern Shanxi province-based group also known as TISCO -- was ranked 10th among 1,563 national enterprise technology centers in China, according to a list recently released by the National Development and Reform Commission. 

As a leader in the domestic metallurgical industry, TISCO has been focusing on innovation for years, local officials said.

It boasts a large number of high-precision and special products such as pen-point steel, hand-tear steel and high-end carbon fiber -- developed in-house and providing important material support for key industries and projects in China.

The company has established technological innovation strategic alliances with more than 40 universities and research institutes at home and abroad.

It has built 14 joint industrial-university-research institute laboratories and established several engineering technology research centers. 

In addition, it has undertaken 54 national and provincial scientific research projects and won 15 national scientific and technological progress awards, officials said. 

They said it also owns a series of proprietary technologies with those concerning stainless steel as the core, and has participated in the formulation of 70 percent of the national standards for stainless steel production.