It's cheers all round, as the Lin-gang Special Area holds a signing ceremony for 22 integrated circuits projects. [Photo/WeChat account: shlgguanweihui]

Twenty-two integrated circuits, or IC projects costing 23.3 billion yuan ($3.69 billion) – to be developed in the Lin-gang Special Area, located in East China's Shanghai city – were inked at a signing ceremony on Feb 28.

The projects – covering a whole array of high-end chip designs, key equipment materials, as well as advanced packaging and testing – are expected to add new momentum to the development of the IC sector in Lin-gang.

In order to accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces, the Lin-gang Special Area has also issued new policies on joint innovation platforms.

Under them, they will be integrated innovation platforms led and supported by influential enterprises. They will enjoy the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises – and have the support of universities, research institutes and other innovation subjects.

To date, the Lin-gang Special Area has attracted more than 150 IC enterprises to settle there, with a contracted investment of more than 200 billion yuan. The value of the IC industry in 2021 for the first time broke through the 10-billion-yuan barrier.