An exterior view of the building housing the Hi-tech Incubator in Optics Valley, in Wuhan [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

A high-tech incubator started operating on June 16 in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone, also known as Optics Valley of China, located in Wuhan, capital city of Central China's Hubei province.

It was jointly built by the Wuhan Hi-tech Group, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), the Optics Valley Laboratory, the science and technology innovation bureau of Optics Valley and others.

Located near HUST and covering a construction area of 32,800 square meters, the incubator is expected to incubate more than 80 high-quality start-up companies in the next five years, including one-two public companies.

It will focus on the artificial intelligence industry and give full play to the scientific research resources and the personnel from HUST and other universities, to offer talent, capital, technology and market innovation services to enterprises.

The incubator will also cooperate with HUST to build a practice base.

Wuhan Hi-tech Group is widely regarded as the most important high-tech industry investment platform in Optics Valley.

Since its establishment 30 years ago, it has invested in five national university science parks and built more than 20 modern industrial parks, including the Hi-tech Medical Devices Park and the Optics Valley Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park.

The interior of the Hi-tech Incubator in Optics Valley [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]