The founding ceremony for an integrated circuits testing industrial park is held in Nantong on Aug 31. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

An integrated circuits testing industrial park was launched at Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, on Aug 31.

Government officials, business representatives and experts attended the founding ceremony and discussed technological innovation and development trends of the industry.

Officials said the park would become China’s “testing valley” through the joint efforts of the Nantong government and a technological innovation industry alliance of integrated circuit testing equipment.

The park will be home to more than 50 innovative companies and sci-tech service institutes, aiming to earn more than 10 billion yuan ($1.39 billion) annually, officials said.

The park will also be an industrial public services platform and set up an industrial foundation with funding of 2 to 2.5 billion yuan.

Nantong’s integrated circuits sector reported sales revenue of 24.76 billion yuan last year, representing a year-on-year increase of 20 percent and ranking it third most lucrative among cities in Jiangsu province, according to Xu Huimin, the city’s mayor.

So far, a group of leading companies and public service platforms -- including Tongfu Microelectronics Co, Datang NXP Semiconductors Co, Jiejie Microelectronics and CAS Nantong Optoelectronics Engineering Center -- have been operating in Nantong. They have reportedly formed a completed industrial chain consisting of chip designs, semiconductors manufacturing, packaging and testing, equipment manufacturing and technological services.

Officials said the local government will continue to attract more related businesses and improve government services, to boost innovative and high-quality development of the integrated circuits industry.