To better offer suggestions for Shanxi's development, from November 1 to 4, commissioned by the Science and Technology Committee of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the China Democratic League, a research team composed of He Xia, Lian Huihui, Yang Kai, and two others selected Wuxi to gain an in-depth understanding of the innovation and entrepreneurship policies and supporting environment in the Wuxi area.
The research team visited several enterprises and institutions, including the Wuxi Research Institute of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuxi Kaiyunlai Robot Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Taixin Machinery Technology Co., Ltd., to comprehensively understand various aspects such as the characteristics of Wuxi's science and technology innovation platforms, the favorable environment for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, the think tank platform leading high-end industrial leaps, and the strategic highland for industrial talent.
Characteristics of Wuxi's Science and Technology Innovation Platforms
The research team first visited the Wuxi Research Institute of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Led by Dr. Zhang Gang, Director of the Robot Application Technology Center, they toured the institute's history museum and the Robot Application Technology Center, and held a discussion with Dr. Zhang. The Robot Application Technology Center, where Dr. Zhang works, is a technology R&D and service institution relying on national-level research platforms such as Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology. It focuses on the market demand for advanced robot technology from high-end manufacturing enterprises in automotive, aviation, shipbuilding, nuclear power, and energy sectors, and conducts research on robot processing technology, intelligent robot equipment development, and robot industry solutions. In addition, Wuxi hosts innovation platforms established based on the advantageous disciplines of universities, such as the Applied Technology Research Institute of Tsinghua University, Wuxi Research Institute of Fudan University, Wuxi New Materials Research Institute of Harbin Institute of Technology, Wuxi Research Institute of Northeastern University, Wuxi Research Institute of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Wuxi Research Institute of Nanjing University of Science and Technology. These research institutes rely on the large platform of the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute to vigorously promote the capitalization and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements.
Favorable Environment for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Through research and visits to Wuxi Kaiyunlai Robot Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Taixin Machinery Technology Co., Ltd., the team learned that the Huishan Economic Development Zone in Wuxi regards serving small and medium-sized enterprises and tackling common industrial technology issues as the main functions of the provincial industrial technology research institute. It carries out specialized services such as contract research, technology transfer, and international exchange, improves the technical service system and open research platforms, and provides technical support for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Wuxi Kaiyunlai Robot Co., Ltd. has unique advantages in the R&D and manufacturing of AGV handling robots. Its main products include AGVs, RGVs, e-commerce handling robots, and logistics sorting robots. The company's founder, Chairman Yu Zhenhua, introduced the company's research areas and his experiences in cooperation with the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute, fully expressing how the local industry-university-research environment has brought tremendous impetus to the company's development.
Jiangsu Taixin Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. is an enterprise engaged in the R&D, manufacturing, and sales of complete sets of pile engineering machinery and supporting products. Its product system covers various pile machinery products such as overall transport rotary drilling rigs, fully hydraulic pile cutting machines, mechanical continuous wall grabs, and hydraulic augers. The company's general manager, Xin Peng, is also an entrepreneur whose ancestral home is in Shanxi and who came to Wuxi to start a business. Having been entrepreneurial in Jiangsu for many years, he has personally experienced Wuxi's favorable entrepreneurial environment and strong government support, which have enabled the company to develop rapidly in recent years and compete in the market with large domestic and international peers such as XCMG and Caterpillar. The company's R&D is supported and cooperated with by the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute and multiple research institutions, with talent gathering and rich financing channels, allowing General Manager Xin to lead the team to focus on developing products and markets.
A Think Tank Platform Leading High-end Industrial Leaps
Cooperation has been established with top international research institutions such as Germany's Fraunhofer Society and the international think tank, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This internationally aligned R&D organization method helps achieve major breakthroughs in frontier, key, and common technology fields of industry, greatly promotes the capitalization and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, and continuously cultivates new business forms and new growth points.
At the same time, it leverages strategic planning and industrial organization functions, aims at the international industrial frontier, studies and proposes industrial technology development strategy analysis reports and forward-looking policy recommendations, and becomes a think tank platform leading high-end industrial leaps.
A Strategic Highland for Industrial Talent
The rapid linkage of talent, projects, services, and funds in the Wuxi Economic Development Zone broadens channels for introducing and cultivating high-level talent, creates a high-quality service environment for innovation and entrepreneurship for talent at home and abroad, builds an internationally renowned strategic highland for industrial talent, and drives a virtuous cycle of subsequent industrial incubation and achievement transformation.
Through this research visit, the team deeply felt that while attracting talent, the local government continuously pays attention to and supports enterprise talent, allowing outstanding talent settled in Wuxi to have no worries. Just like caring for children, it not only incubates but also allows enterprises to grow rapidly in a good environment. This provides some ideas for Shanxi's scientific and technological development.