NHIZ sees 70% YoY growth in sci-tech projects
In the first quarter of this year, the Nantong National High-tech Industrial Development Zone (NHIZ) achieved an impressive 70 percent year-on-year increase in the number of scientific and innovation projects, injecting strong momentum into the development of new quality productive forces in the region.
This growth stems from the zone's concerted efforts to attract and nurture sci-tech innovation projects through strengthening the platform chain, expanding the industrial chain, and optimizing the service chain.
In recent years, NHIZ has laid a solid foundation by establishing multiple national and provincial-level innovation platforms and carriers, accelerating the transformation from laboratory research to production lines.
The Shanghai Jiao Tong University Nantong Advanced Technology Research Institute, founded on July 2 in 2024, is a prime example. Within less than a year of its establishment, the institute has successfully incubated 13 sci-tech innovation projects for implementation and facilitated 12 in-depth collaborative technology research projects between enterprises and universities.
The zone is also continuously deepening industrial chain development, focusing on extending the chains, strengthening weak links, and filling critical gaps to accelerate the growth of industrial clusters. It has successfully established a modern industrial system with three pillars: automotive components, new-generation information technology, and intelligent equipment manufacturing.
In the semiconductor sector, NHIZ has gathered a group of industry leaders. In 2024, it introduced the Zhiju Semiconductor Co's CHIPLETS Project. In March 2025, the Zhongke Mingguang Co's precision-guided photoelectric imaging components project signed and settled in the zone, further promoting the development of the high-end equipment manufacturing industrial chain.
Furthermore, NHIZ cultivates enterprises through systemic service innovation initiatives. With comprehensive support, 31 sci-tech innovation projects in the zone have grown into enterprises above designated size, and seven nationally and provincially recognized potential unicorn enterprises have been incubated, including PI Semiconductor (Nantong) Co.
