A bird's eye view of Hai'an. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

Hai'an, a county-level city administered by Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province, was recently approved as one of the first innovation counties or cities by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The development of innovative counties and cities is driven by scientific and technological innovation, and these places are important supports for developing an innovation-driven city and province.

Hai'an has been exploring a replicable "Hai'an model" since it started working to become an innovative city in 2017.

Hai'an has set up technology talent offices in the 10 districts and towns under its administration and municipal bureaus, including the tax bureau and the science and technology bureau, have taken the initiative to cultivate 18 industrial chains.

Fifty-seven government departments in Hai'an have been arranged to offer over 400 local tech enterprises services related to technology, talent, and projects.

Nearly 600 enterprises in the city have cooperated with over 170 institutes and universities as well as 30 academicians. More than 60 percent of Hai'an's net increase in industrial taxable sales came from the projects jointly launched by enterprises and institutes.

In 2020, Hai'an was home to 374 high-tech enterprises, 2.5 times more than in 2017.

In the following years, Hai'an will continue taking measures to cultivate high-tech enterprises and stimulate the innovation capacity of talent, said an official from the Hai'an municipal bureau of science and technology.