Ningbo ranks high nationwide in hard technology development

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province was ranked 19th in the nation in terms of hard technology development level, according to a recent report.

The report was compiled by CCID Consulting, a firm affiliated with a think tank under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The cities were evaluated based on the hard technology development index (HTDI), which focuses on the performance of non-listed companies with high growth potential in eight industries: next-generation information technology, energy conservation and environmental protection, clean energy, biotechnology, new materials, new energy vehicles, high-end equipment manufacturing and digital creativity.

Beijing topped this year's HTDI ranking, followed by Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Chengdu and Changsha.

Eight of the top 20 cities on the list are from the Yangtze River Delta. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta have 13 seats in total.

Ningbo's ranking has been relatively stable over the past five years - fluctuating between 17th and 19th.

Although Ningbo was ranked last among the top 20 cities in terms of the number of patents, it took 14th spot in terms of the growth rate of patents, indicating its innovation capabilities are improving at an accelerated pace.