Haimen district in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province has in recent years made significant strides in advancing innovation and achieving high-quality development.

The output value of the district’s high-tech enterprises stood at 49.9 billion yuan ($7.16 billion) in the January-October period this year, accounting for 47.6 percent of industrial enterprises above designated size.

The district is currently home to 273 high-tech enterprises, and 112 of them were designated as high-tech companies in the first 10 months of this year. 

This achievement is largely due to efforts made by authorities over the past few years. 

For instance, authorities have in recent years implemented a series of measures, including establishing four national mass innovation spaces and three provincial such spaces, rolling out preferential policies, as well as holding roadshows and innovation contests, to attract more high-caliber talents to the district. 

Eighteen projects which will be managed by the top talents were launched in the district this year. 

Authorities have this year also sent representatives from over 50 enterprises to attend more than 10 promotional activities, during which 138 agreements regarding innovation cooperation were signed. 

The district has also been encouraging enterprises to pursue innovation. This year, the district cultivated five national “little giant” enterprises, which refer to those small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that own core technologies, strong innovation capabilities, large market shares, and high profitability.  

Meanwhile, authorities hosted a financial forum in Shanghai this year during which the district signed agreements with financial institutions such as Shanghai Bank and Beijing Bank to improve its financial strength. 

To date, authorities have issued loans of 1.26 billion yuan to provide support to high-tech enterprises in the district.