A total of 200 experts and 12 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with a number of representatives from colleges and enterprises, attended an activity held in Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on Nov 30.

The experts and academicians shared their views on new materials, saving energy, smart manufacturing, modern agriculture, and more.

The technological achievements of local enterprises were also shared during the event. Their achievements were related to smart manufacturing, automation, new materials, saving energy, environmental protection, and modern textiles.

The first session of the event was held in 2014 when a CAS workshop was first established in Hai'an. Since then, CAS experts have come to Hai'an every year to provide technological support for local enterprises.

Hai'an currently houses 193 national-level high-tech enterprises. More than 110 discussions have been held between Hai'an's enterprises and CAS, and 62 projects have been carried out by the two sides over the past five years.

One high-tech project being carried out by the Process Engineering Research Institute of CAS and a Hai'an enterprise has been listed as a major provincial project and has received 1.2 million yuan ($170,678) in financial support.

Hai'an has managed to attract 68 national-level skilled workers and 2,659 high-level skilled workers, establishing itself as an innovation and entrepreneurship base for overseas returnees.