The integrated circuits (IC) industry in the Zhuhai National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Tangjiawan) has posted a strong performance in the first quarter of 2022, as the number of IC enterprises above designated size increased to 32 while their total economic scale went up by 18.1 percent year-on-year to 1.29 billion yuan ($189.87 million).

Integrated circuits are recognized as a core part of the new-generation information industry. Tangjiawan's IC industrial output value has maintained a double-digit growth for five consecutive years. Of note, the added value of local IC enterprises above designated size accounted for 9.1 percent of the zone's total, with a contribution rate of 10 percent.

During the January-April period, 12 key projects involving semiconductors and IC with total estimated investment of 11.2 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) have settled in Tangjiawan. An IC industrial cluster with domestic influence will take shape by 2024 with estimated industrial scale of over 30 billion yuan ($4.4 billion) by 2024, according to Zhang Hanming, deputy director of the zone's administrative committee at the 2022 Zhuhai Software & IC Industrial Summit held on May 7 at the Kingsoft Industrial Park.

Awards ceremony [Photo courtesy WeChat account: zh_gxq]

In addition, 10 Tangjiawan enterprises and 11 talents were credited for their significant contributions at the event. Four enterprises, including Zhuhai iSmartWare Technology, were chosen as Most Growable IC Enterprises in Zhuhai, accounting for half of the city's total.

Jusheng Technology was one of the two Zhuhai IC Prominent Enterprises winners from Tangjiawan, while four others, including Actions Technology, received the award of Zhuhai Best IC Technological Innovative Products, making up 57 percent of the city's total.

High-end talents, including Xiong Fugui of Zhuhai iSmartWare Technology, were named Zhuhai Outstanding Individuals in IC, while Han Jun of Orbita Electronic and eight others were selected as Zhuhai IC Innovative Talents, accounting for 70 percent of the city's total. 

During the event, Tangjiawan also issued its first batch of awards for the local IC industry, which amounted to 2 million yuan ($294,576). The application period for this year's IC industrial subsidy has already started.

Zhang noted that Tangjiawan has launched several policies last year to support the IC industry's development, adding that detailed implementation rules for subsidies on supporting IC development were released this April.