Zone's authorities have pledged to facilitate the nation's industrial progress and growth through a host of preferential policies and support for scientific and technological businesses to spur on development of globally leading clusters in eastern China

Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone has evolved into a key engine to fuel innovation-driven industrys' development in Shanghai.

Through technological innovation, economic structure upgrades and an entrepreneurship-friendly environment, the zone has made fruitful achievements in fostering new industries, attracting global high-end talent and piloting reform policies.

In 2016, the total revenue generated by the enterprises in the zone reached 4.31 trillion yuan ($634.19 billion), of which the enterprises above the designated size realized 3.95 trillion yuan, an increase of 7 percent year-on-year. Those enterprises paid 242.9 billion yuan in taxes, an increase of 6.3 percent year-on-year.

At present, there are about 70,000 scientific and technological innovation-driven enterprises in the zone, and nearly 3,000 enterprises there can achieve 100 million yuan in yearly income.

The new generation of information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, biomedicine, energy conservation and environmental protection saw rapid development in the zone.

The new energy and new energy vehicles industrial clusters were also granted beneficial policies. The modern service industry and integrated cultural and technological industry embraced a new development phase.

With its forward-looking layout and efforts made in innovation, the zone has built up 66 key projects in industries ranging from quantum communication, stem cells, accurate medical treatment and big data in healthcare services to high-end medical equipment.

Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone is also the cradle of the C919, China's first homegrown large passenger jet. A capsule endoscopy robot used in advanced stomach examinations was also invented there.

Here, environmentally friendly EVCARD electric cars can be rented for people's travel. Some of the incubation centers' offices were made out of shipping containers. The national-level protein science research center has become a world-leading laboratory in the field.

The area is home to nearly 370 multinational research and development centers, accounting for nearly 25 percent of all in the country. The zone's top 500 enterprises in the world account for one third of all of China's.

In addition, newly emerging high-end projects including a mobile internet video industry park, and clusters focusing on integrated circuit production chain, new cancer drugs, antibody and vaccine manufacturing and reproductive healthcare equipment are also under construction.

In the spring of 1991, Shanghai Caohejing Development Zone was approved in the first batch of national-level high-tech zones.

In 1992, the national-level high-tech zone of Shanghai was named Shanghai Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, of which the origins of today's Zhangjiang zone was a key part.

In 2006, Shanghai Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone was approved to change its name to Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone and took its role as a pilot for industrial reform in 2011.

In recent years, the zone has been evolved into a major high-tech zone covering all the administrative regions of Shanghai with 22 business parks.

The remote farmland and old town in the zone have been transformed into a central industrial zone with high buildings and innovation parks where young people cultivate their dreams.

Originally a tiny town, Zhangjiang has gained worldwide fame as a cutting-edge technology park through several decades' effort.

It opened channels for foreign people to apply for permanent residency to attract world-renowned professionals and proposed beneficial policies for visa applications and residence permits for the convenience of startup entrepreneurs.

In 2008, Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone was nominated as an "Overseas High-Level Talent Innovation Base". Up to now, the innovation competitiveness of the zone ranks second in the whole country, only after Zhongguancun park in Beijing, according to the zone.

The zone will make more efforts to facilitate innovation-driven industries and upgrade its industrial structure to embrace a new phase of development.

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(China Daily European Weekly 07/07/2017 page26)