Known as a national innovation hub, the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone is committed to fostering new quality productive forces through scientific and technological innovation and becoming a world-class high-tech industrial park.

Breakthrough in quantum computing

QuantumCTek is located in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

In March, Chinese scientists unveiled a superconducting quantum computer prototype named "Zuchongzhi 3.0" with 105 qubits, marking a breakthrough in China's quantum computing development.

Developed by academicians from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and leading quantum companies like QuantumCTek in the zone, the prototype sets a new record in quantum computational advantage within superconducting systems.

From Zuchongzhi to Zuchongzhi 3.0, from core components to cloud service industry chain, QuantumCTek has provided the world with a "Chinese model" for superconducting quantum computing.

Sci-tech innovation center

Institute of Advanced Technology of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) is located in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

In 2017, the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center was officially unveiled in Hefei as the country's second comprehensive national science center.

Gathering more than 20 research and development institutions, including the National Laboratory for Quantum Sciences and the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, the zone has now become an important source of sci-tech innovation for the country.

In addition, the zone has closely cooperated with higher learning institutions and witnessed the establishment of over 300 technology commercialization companies.

Clusters of future-oriented industries

China Speech Valley is located in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

In 2024, Anhui set out to build its first 10 pilot zones for future-oriented industries, five of which are nestled in Hefei. Among them, three are located in the zone, covering fields of quantum technology, artificial general intelligence, and aerospace.

On March 3, iFlytek, a world's artificial intelligence pioneer, completed the comprehensive upgrade of its Spark Deep Inference Large Model X1, with capabilities rivaling DeepSeek R1 and OpenAI o1.

At present, the city is home to over 70 enterprises in the quantum industrial chain, including more than 30 core companies.

Innovation ecosystem

Zhong'an Chuanggu Technology Park is located in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

Fostering new quality productive forces requires a solid foundation in finance, manpower, scenario application, and other aspects.

To date, the zone has pooled 230 investment funds managing 270 billion yuan ($37.18 billion) in total, and set up a number of full-cycle science and technology financial service systems.

The zone has also attached great importance to talent cultivation. By the end of 2024, more than 50% of the employees in the zone had bachelor's degrees or above, and the total number of high-caliber personnel reached 7,400, ranking first in Hefei.

There are 84 postdoctoral workstations in the zone, accounting for 36% of the city, which have provided a strong driving force for regional innovation and development.