From villages to global innovation hub

Beijing ETown is a gateway to China and the world for multinational giants, Zhuan Ti reports.

The Chinese government has pinned its hopes on Beijing becoming the national hub for technology innovation. Beijing ETown, also known as the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, is expected to take the lead as it builds itself into a world-class center for the high-tech industry.

The 50-square-kilometer area in southeastern Beijing started a new chapter for the exponential growth of the Chinese capital and its technological and scientific industries when it was founded in 1991.

ETown transformed from a cluster of villages to a concentration of domestic and foreign technological giants and its growth is a step forward for China's global integration.

Tech breakthrough

The global technology innovation hub is home to some of the biggest multinationals, including General Electric, Microsoft, Bosch and Mercedes-Benz, as well as a number of local high-tech companies such as MIUI.

A total of 8,890 enterprises from 30 countries and regions around the world, covering a broad range of new industries including electronics, bio-medicine and high-end equipment manufacturing, have established themselves in the area.

ETown has attracted 80 companies from the world's top 500 corporations and projects including digital TV production, advanced super-chip plants, world-class automakers, China's first cloud computing server and leading names in the biomedical sphere.

The area hosted a number of breakthrough projects including biomedicine innovations, the first domestically designed control system for subway trains and the world's biggest LCD display.

Some of the world's cutting-edge technologies are being tested and produced in Beijing ETown.

The integrated circuit industry has a powerful foothold in the zone with chip manufacturing, packing and testing equipment becoming strong features.

Industry leaders such as BOE, Corning, Sumitomo Chemical and AOC operate on a 2.6 square kilometer Digital TV Industry Park within the zone where breakthroughs in home entertainment have become reality.

One of the area's distinguishing characteristics is a center for biomedicine. It has grown into a high-end manufacturing center and emerging research and development hub.

There has also been rapid growth in the auto industry cluster in recent years, with Mercedes-Benz and spare parts makers, like ZF Friedrichshafen and Lear, accelerating their production and research.

The cloud computing industry also formed a cluster within the zone made up of computer software and hardware manufacturers, cloud computing infrastructure, cloud computing platforms and cloud computing application support services, earning it the title of China's cloud core.

The e-commerce industry cluster has drawn industry heavyweights including 360buy, Tencent, and Vancl - commerce companies were attracted by the location, which is seen as a gateway to Beijing, China and the world.

ETown has flourished by focusing on a number of core industries in the high-tech field and by tailoring itself to meet the requirements of those industries.

The zone is suited to core technologies, system integration, cutting-edge manufacturing closely associated with research and development and advanced production lines.

It prides itself on being an ideal place for innovative new industries to put down roots ready for rapid growth.

Strategic location

A good location is key for a technology innovation hub to attract the world's top companies and the ETown's location is unrivalled within China and the Asia-Pacific region.

The area has the Beijing Capital International Airport and a new international airport is under construction there. A major port is close by, along with all the affiliated customs and commodity inspection infrastructure. It also benefits from an efficient public services and infrastructure network.

Since it began 20 years ago, Beijing ETown has attracted 300 billion yuan ($49 billion) in total investment.

In the past 10 years, its annual growth rate of GDP, total industrial output and fiscal revenue all exceeded 40 percent.

The area's investment intensity reached 130 million yuan per hectare, output intensity hit 200 million yuan per hectare and average tax paid was 13 million yuan per hectare.

Talent hub

Beijing ETown has become a hub for technological innovation and entrepreneurship by talented professionals from all over the world.

The zone is a magnet for regional technological innovation thanks to the structure of its collaborative government, industry and academic research financing system.

ETown has seen groundbreaking achievements, such as the world's largest reorganized protein data bank, the first medical linear accelerators creating high-energy beams to destroy tumors, the first genetic screening chip for the clinical diagnosis of deafness and China's first completely humanized antibodies.

More than 3,000 high-tech professionals from around the world live and work in Beijing ETown and 1,000 of them are PhD holders from some of the world's best universities.

The park's evolution was spurred on by a financial system known as 6+1+N, which represents six types of funding with one government platform to bring a business to the zone and support its growth.

The professional financial service system has provided more than 8 billion yuan in funding for 50 enterprises and social capital investment of more than 50 billion yuan.

Policy support

Beijing ETown has attracted international talent and investment because it was designed not only as a place to work and innovate but a place that is comfortable and convenient to live.

Located on an intersection where highways, city expressways, key urban roads and light rail networks meet, the zone offers convenient and fast modern transport as well as access to nearby economic zones, airports and a port.

Throughout the planning process, Beijing ETown followed an established policy of leveling land and providing roads, rainwater pipes, sewerage, tap water pipes, natural gas pipes, power lines, telecom connections, heating pipes, cable TV lines and wireless networks.

Within the zone, there is an overseas scholar center, postdoctoral workstations, a pioneer park for returned overseas students and academic expert workstations to support the development of talented professionals.

The zone was granted a 100 million yuan special fund for talent development and attracted dozens of top academics from around the world as well as thousands of overseas scholars.

A one-stop service hall provides individual, professional and customized services to enterprises and has gained a nationwide reputation for low administrative costs, outstanding infrastructure and world-class support facilities for businesses.

Public and local services are easily available and are of an international standard.

Beijing ETown has a comprehensive and highly regarded education system with international teaching institutions covering every stage including pre-school, primary, middle and high school.

The area boasts top medical services including public hospitals such as the Beijing Tongren Hospital, which is among the finest in the Chinese capital.

There are several five-star and business hotels to cater for conferences, academic exchanges and business gatherings, along with weekend entertainment options including a golf course, sports centers, libraries and cinemas and a broad range of houses and apartments.

(China Daily 11/10/2014 page30)