Taizhou ranks 38th nationally in tech entrepreneurship in 2024

The recently released China Urban Technology Entrepreneurship Evaluation Report for 2024 ranks Taizhou 38th nationwide. 

Compiled by the School of Entrepreneurship and Management at Shanghai Tech University, the report comprehensively assesses the entrepreneurial cultivation capacity, innovation quality, and business environment of major cities across China.

For scientists venturing into entrepreneurship, Taizhou provides a supportive ecosystem. Tu Fuqiang, project leader at the Southeast University Materials Research Institute, was surprised when his research progressed from theory to market-ready products in less than a year. His team's project, related to multi-layer metal composite materials for sliding bearings, addresses a key bottleneck in China.

Despite the project's high technological value and strong market potential, Tu admitted that his team initially hesitated about commercialization. "Conducting research is one thing, but bringing a technological breakthrough to market is entirely different," he said. Stability testing, manufacturing processes, funding, and equipment were key concerns. However, after joining the Jiangsu Jicui Surface Engineering Research Institute, these challenges were quickly resolved.

"The institute provided funding, equipment, and facilities. Whenever we faced technical difficulties, an expert team was available to help, allowing us to focus on innovation without worries," Tu added.

Taizhou is strengthening its tech-to-market pipeline by leveraging research institutions to establish concept validation centers and pilot testing platforms. More innovation platforms are now playing a crucial role in incubating sci-tech projects.

Just last month, the Jiangsu Jicui Advanced Ceramics Research Institute completed equipment installation and testing. Backed by Tsinghua University's State Key Laboratory of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, the institute is a national leader in advanced structural ceramics research and precision ceramic component manufacturing.

"Many university teams and startups lack engineering capabilities, which can hinder even prototype development," said Qi Haolong, chief engineer of the Ceramics Institute and an associate professor at Tsinghua University. "A well-established platform can accelerate early-stage projects, giving them a valuable head start in their growth journey."