Tech innovation flourishes in Shanxi

North China's Shanxi province made remarkable results in scientific and technological innovation over the past decade. 

During this period, the province completed the reform of provincial-level science and technology management departments, and comprehensively promoted the reconstruction of its science and technology system. 

Through the reform, scientific researchers have greater rights to use funds and decide on technical research. This boosted the entrepreneurship and innovation within Shanxi.

According to Wei Yinghui, director of Shanxi Department of Science and Technology, the amount of annual support funds and the number of projects for science and technology planning multiplied within the past 10 years. 

The industry-university-research institutions in Shanxi have jointly undertaken more than 200 provincial-level scientific research projects together with domestic first-class research institutes, such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, with research funds of about 350 million yuan ($48.94 million). 

Scientific research institutions in the province jointly implemented 240 special scientific and technological cooperation and exchange projects together with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as overseas universities and enterprises. 

The number of national and provincial key laboratories in the province increased 160 percent within the past decade and 33 provincial technology innovation centers were also built, which played an important role in supporting scientific research, cultivating talent, and serving high-quality development.

Zhang Kejun, deputy director of Shanxi Department of Science and Technology, said that the local authorities issued 24 documents related to the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. They have also issued more than 30 supporting policies and measures in the same period. 

The province has formed a tech achievement transformation platform system composed of one transaction service platform, five pilot test bases, six demonstration bases and 58 enterprises for tech achievement transformation, and 73 strategic industrial technology innovation alliances. 

As a result, Shanxi won 40 national science and technology awards and saw tech contract transactions increase from 12.42 billion yuan in 2012 to 52.18 billion yuan in 2021.

A number of influential tech achievements have provided strong support for the province's socioeconomic development. The extremely thin stainless steel sheet made by Taiyuan Iron & Steel (Group) Co, a Shanxi-based stainless steel giant, and the biodegradable water-seeping mulch developed by Shanxi Agricultural University are just some examples of what Shanxi has achieved.