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A foreign specialist develops new products at the innovation hub for international high-level talent in Keqiao district, Shaoxing. [Photo/WeChat account: sxfabu]

Shaoxing is advancing industrial innovation through science and technology, supported by a series of reforms aimed at building a more competitive, modern industrial system.

The city has strengthened its enterprise-centered innovation system this year by integrating education, research, and talent. Shaoxing established its first national key laboratory, and 38 provincial-level innovation projects worth 61.07 billion yuan ($8.64 billion) were launched — the highest in Zhejiang province in both volume and value.

Technology investment is quickly turning into industrial productivity. Zhejiang Dongjin New Material Technology in Keqiao district has expanded cooperation with leading global brands and maintained annual growth of more than 30 percent for three consecutive years. The company allocates 5 percent of its annual sales revenue to research and development, which is expected to exceed 50 million yuan this year.

A cardiac electrophysiology robot assists the lead surgeon at Meio CardiNav Medical. [Photo/WeChat account: sxfabu]

New sectors are also gaining momentum. On Nov 24, Meio CardiNav Medical unveiled its first mass-produced cardiac electrophysiology surgery robot, Titian, marking significant progress for China's high-end medical device industry.

From January to October, industrial firms with annual main business revenue of 20 million yuan or above spent 4.27 percent of their operating revenue on research, the highest in Zhejiang province. R&D units covered 70.1 percent of these firms, and 94 percent carried out research activities. Industrial added value rose 9.9 percent year-on-year, ranking second in the province.

A major driver of this growth is Shaoxing's integrated reforms in education, science, and talent development. As the only pilot city in Zhejiang, Shaoxing has introduced dedicated policies and 50 million yuan in matching funds to attract universities and research institutes to build innovation platforms in the city.

Platform integration is also speeding up commercialization. Since opening in the Binhai New Area, the International Institute for Innovative Design and Intelligent Manufacturing at Tianjin University in Zhejiang has served more than 100 companies and incubated 33 tech-based firms, becoming an important bridge between academia and industry.

Shaoxing is now expanding its innovation ecosystem to include emerging fields such as the low-altitude economy and artificial intelligence.

A researcher manages autonomous driving systems during a simulation. [Photo/WeChat account: sxfabu]