A launch ceremony for a national level industry and information technology innovative industrialization center was held in Haimen, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, Dec 4.

More than 150 representatives from government departments, universities, research institutes and companies specializing in robots and equipment manufacturing took part in the event, with several experts delivering keynote speeches.

Guo Xiaomin, major of Haimen, briefed the attendees on the city's economic and social development, stressing that in recent years the local government has placed much importance on the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry through promoting research and development (R&D) into robot products.

A robot industrial cluster has begun taking shape in the city and a robot town covering 3.45 square kilometers is planned.

Guo said the city will fully use the center to become a pilot zone for the innovative industrialization of artificial intelligence and robot technology.

It will attract more universities and institutes to commercialize their research findings in Haimen and become a model for the domestic robot industry.