In the Chengdu Plain in June, the innovative heat wave is more scorching than the temperature. From the hundred meter high tower of ZTE Corporation pointing straight into the sky, to the breakthrough of life in the microscopic world of the gene laboratory, and to the silent transformation of clean energy in hydrogen energy equipment, a big drama related to the transformation of urban industrial levels is being staged simultaneously by Xinglong Lake and major parks.

ZTE Southwest Science and Technology Innovation Center

ZTE Southwest Science and Technology Innovation Center is expected to be capped by the end of June 2026 and fully completed and put into operation by 2027. On June 5, 2026, the tower at the project site located on the east bank of Xinglong Lake was nearing the topping out stage. As ZTE's fifth largest global R&D center, this science and technology innovation landmark with a total investment of billions and a construction area of about 100000 square meters is accelerating from blueprint to reality.

The project has planned a full chain of facilities including research offices, conference centers, data centers, and high-precision laboratories, which can accommodate more than 3200 researchers. The center will focus on three cutting-edge directions: 6G communication, chip research and development, and quantum technology. After being put into use, it is expected to attract more than 2000 high-end talents and leverage ZTE's industrial ecological advantages to continuously aggregate upstream and downstream resources, consolidating the foundation of Chengdu's electronic information industry. Previously, ZTE had collaborated with partners to complete the 5G-A sensing system pilot in Chengdu, providing demonstration support for the low altitude economy.

New frontiers in biomedicine and optoelectronics

The first gene drug production base in Southwest China that meets the GMP standards of China and the United States has officially started production. The Hongji Biotechnology Production Base located in Jinniu High tech Park has achieved the production of the first batch of clinical samples, and the second batch is currently being promoted. The base started construction in February 2025, will be completed by the end of 2025, and will be put into operation in early 2026, achieving fully enclosed zoning control of raw materials, formulations, and quality inspection.

The base will undertake the Phase III clinical and commercial production tasks of China's first approved nAMD gene therapy drug, building a full chain capability from research and development to mass production. Xie Qing, Chief Scientist of Hongji Biotechnology, stated that the company is focusing on the next generation of ophthalmic treatment technology, and two products are currently undergoing clinical trials simultaneously in China and the United States. Vice General Manager Huang Hongfei pointed out that the base will make every effort to ensure the research and development of new drugs, clinical supply, and future commercial production.

Another enterprise headquarters has settled in Chengdu and will establish a research and production base for adaptive optics laser equipment. Sichuan Lianxin Yuguang Technology Co., Ltd., the only private enterprise in China that has mastered fully autonomous adaptive optics technology, recently signed a contract to relocate its headquarters to Chenghua Economic Development Zone and invest in building a factory. This move will fill the gaps in the high-end optoelectronic equipment industry chain in the region and improve the urban industrial system.

Lianxin Technology originates from the technical accumulation of academician Jiang Wenhan's team at the Institute of Optoelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and has exclusively mastered the core technology of non cooperative target wavefront correction, achieving key technological breakthroughs. Enterprise layout in cutting-edge fields such as laser communication, high-definition imaging, and wireless charging for drones. According to the agreement, the enterprise will build a science and technology innovation base in Chengdu that integrates headquarters office, research and development, and production. It is expected to complete the decoration before August and be put into operation before the end of the year. This project will promote the extension of Chengdu's advanced optical industry chain to fields such as satellite communication and laser fusion.

AEM hydrogen production technology blooms at multiple points

The six major AEM hydrogen production projects of Hydrogen Qi Energy Technology (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. have been concentrated and implemented. Hydrogen Qi Energy, located in Chenghua Economic Development Zone, has recently won multiple orders covering seawater hydrogen production, power grid energy storage, university research and other scenarios, proving its leading position in the new generation of hydrogen production technology with actual delivery results. Keywords: Chengdu, Sichuan, 6G, High tech

The most eye-catching one is the hydrogen production coupled with organic liquid hydrogen storage project developed for China Southern Power Grid. This is also the first demonstration project in China that combines AEM hydrogen production with organic liquid hydrogen storage for power grid energy storage, like equipping the power grid with a "super large capacity power bank". In addition, the 5kW seawater hydrogen production platform developed by the enterprise can directly utilize seawater for hydrogen production without desalination; The 2.5kW scientific research platform and 250kW industrial grade equipment have also been put on the market. At present, Hydrogen Energy has mastered five core technologies including anion exchange membranes and catalysts, and has established a completely independent intellectual property system.Editor/Gong Ziwei