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Yangkou Port Chemical Pilot Base. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

The Yangkou Port Chemical Pilot Base — Nantong's first of its kind — opened in Rudong county on May 28, with six pioneering enterprises moving in. Experts in new materials, representatives from industry associations, and project teams gathered to explore the future of the latest materials industry and the integration of academia, research, and industry.

The chemical pilot base is designed to bridge the critical last mile between laboratory research and industrial-scale production. It aims to address key challenges in the traditional chemical industry, such as difficulties in commercializing lab-scale innovations and high risks in industrialization.

As one of the first three pilot bases approved in Jiangsu province, the Yangkou Port facility hosts projects in cutting-edge fields, including nanomaterials, high-purity semiconductor materials, novel oxygen-absorbing materials, and advanced fiber materials, with some products being world firsts.

A highlight at the opening ceremony was Jiangsu Shenyuan New Materials' high-end specialty nylon project. According to founder Xiang Hengxue, the team aims to incubate the project for two to three years at the base, achieving an annual production capacity of 2,000 metric tons. The company plans to build a 4-hectare industrial park for specialty polyamides in Rudong in the long term.

"Government support and expert guidance have been essential to landing the project," said Xiang. The base has attracted Tsinghua University, Donghua University, and overseas teams, creating fertile ground for innovation.

Zhou Liang, Party secretary of the Yangkou Port Economic Development Zone, emphasized that the base will elevate the region's industrial capabilities and guide its transition from basic chemicals to advanced sectors, establishing a distinct competitive edge.

Rudong has rolled out a series of innovation incentives to support the initiative and set up a dedicated service team to provide tailored assistance for incoming projects.