The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

Focusing on high-tech innovation, the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone has accelerated its efforts in 2024 to foster new quality productive forces, and promote high-quality economic and social development.

Last year, a raft of research and development institutions settled in the zone, including Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT)-Anhui Aerospace Research Institute and Yangtze River Delta Industrial Chain Supply Chain Security (Hefei) Research Institute. At present, there are 22 such institutions in total, accounting for 40% of the number in Hefei city.

The zone is now home to 3,400 high-tech firms, six unicorn companies, and 1,616 enterprises dedicated to fostering new quality productive forces, ranking first across the country.

In terms of people's wellbeing, the zone has continuously improved its ecological environment. In 2024, 506,100 square meters of green area have been built or upgraded, along with five new parks and greenways stretching 8.63 kilometers.

In terms of education, the zone has boosted balanced development of compulsory education, and initiated more inclusive and affordable preschool education. Last year, four new primary schools and five new public kindergartens opened in the zone, and nearly 40,000 students received compulsory education in primary and secondary schools, increasing 15% year on year.

In 2025, the zone will improve its urban layout, and build on its role as a hub for future-oriented industries and high-caliber personnels. It plans to develop Shuxi Lake and Baiyan Lake into two major urban sub-centers, accelerate the construction of iFlytek Town, and achieve a comprehensive upgrade in urban functions.

The zone will also continue focusing on innovation, accelerating the development of quantum information, fusion energy, and deep space exploration, and strengthening coordination between China Speech Valley, the Grand Union of Innovation (GUi), High-tech Security Valley, as well as Zhong'an Chuanggu Technology Park, so as to realize its vision of becoming a world-class high-tech hub.