NPC deputy calls for support to bolster Ningbo's new materials sector

Huang Zhengren, deputy to the 13th National People's Congress and director of Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Huang Zhengren, deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, has called for more support to turn Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province into a world-class innovation hub for new materials.

Huang, who is also director of the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, made the remarks in his legislative proposal which was presented at the annual session of the nation's top legislature on March 5.

As one of the seven largest new materials production bases in China, Ningbo has strong comparative advantages in areas including earth magnetic materials, new chemical materials, new metal materials, functional membrane materials, electronic information materials.

The city is home to 17 enterprises in the new materials sector that have the biggest share in their niche markets in China as well as 24 research organs in the sector.

In 2021, the output value of the new materials sector in Ningbo totaled 327.59 billion yuan ($50.4 billion), up 38.2 percent year-on-year, official statistics show.

The local government has set the goal of developing itself into a world-class innovation hub for new materials.

Noting that the establishment of high-end innovation platforms is key to bolstering the drive, Huang called for more support to build national key labs or innovation centers in fields including extreme condition materials and magnetic materials in Ningbo.

He also suggested the central government designate the city as a destination for national investments in fields including high-end magnetic materials, new polymer materials and flexible electronic materials and a test bed for the commercialization of major scientific and technological technologies.