Taizhou in Zhejiang province has made innovation a top strategic priority, allocating dedicated funds to support technological development. In the first half of this year, the added value of its high-tech industries accounted for 74.4 percent of the output of industrial enterprises above the designated size — enterprises with annual revenue of at least 20 million yuan (about $3 million) — the highest proportion in the province.

Building on its strong traditional manufacturing base, the city is accelerating technological upgrades and encouraging enterprises to develop future factories to reduce production costs, improve efficiency, and overcome technological barriers.

Taizhou has also established innovation platforms at multiple levels to provide enterprises with public services such as pilot testing and industrial AI infrastructure, lowering the barriers to innovation for small and medium-sized enterprises and accelerating the commercialization of scientific and technological advances.

The city is introducing flexible talent recruitment mechanisms, including the "vice-president of science and technology" program, and promoting an innovation model in which enterprises set the problems and the market evaluates the results.

By attracting talent to work directly on production lines, Taizhou is building a coordinated innovation ecosystem involving the government, enterprises, platforms, and talent, supporting its transition from a manufacturing hub to a smart manufacturing city.