Facing stricter environmental regulations and industrial overcapacity, Rudong county in Nantong, Jiangsu province, is helping traditional manufacturers move up the value chain by establishing innovation platforms, including a university-backed research institute and a chemical pilot testing base, that connect businesses with technical expertise and commercialization support.

As an example, the 5,000-square-meter Rudong new material research institute of Changzhou University was launched in Yangkou town of Rudong in August 2025.

The institute is equipped with five concept validation laboratories, a comprehensive roadshow area, and one-stop service support for shared testing, intellectual property, legal and financial affairs. To date, it has filed two patent applications, and its 100-metric-ton/year polyimide project is now in the phase of feasibility-study approval, with first‑year orders projected at 3 to 5 million yuan ($460,000 to $770,000).

The institute's impact is best seen at Jingwei Fine Chemical, a local player stuck in low‑value commodity production. With government facilitation, Jingwei partnered with Professor Wang's team in the institute.

Using its existing reactors, Jingwei now produces high‑end specialty powders, moving from basic raw materials to premium markets. "We've revived idle capacity and gained real confidence," said Wang Xiaodong, general manager of Jingwei.

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

To bridge the gap between the lab and mass production, Rudong has also built the Yangkou Port Chemical Pilot Base, offering trial runs, safety assessments, and testing, cutting costs and shortening commercialization cycles.

Over the next five years, the institute aims to attract 20 innovation pioneers, incubate seven technology firms, and help build Yangkou town into a leading demonstration zone for technology transfer in the Yangtze River Delta.