Chongqing in Southwest China signed a strategic cooperation agreement with five top Chinese universities – Nanjing University, China Agricultural University, Central China Normal University, Southwest Jiaotong University, and Nanchang University – on July 13.

Strategic decision-making consultations are an important part of cooperation between Chongqing and the five universities. The universities will play the role of "think tank" to drive Chongqing's high-quality development.

Nanjing University will provide consultation, evaluation, and argument services to aid Chongqing in policy formulation for strategic development plans, regional economic performance, and the construction of scientific and innovative centers.

China Agricultural University will carry out theoretical and application research on China's western development drive, the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle, and the rural rejuvenation strategy.

Focusing on aerospace, transportation, smart manufacturing, environmental preservation, and modern services, Southwest Jiaotong University will assign experts and scholars to provide technological support to Chongqing's mid- and long-term development strategies in key regions, city construction layouts, high-tech industrial development, and corporate innovation.

The agreements also promote technological transfers from the five universities to Chongqing. Nanchang University, for instance, is known for its strong chemistry, engineering, agricultural science, biology, bio-chemistry, and materials science disciplines.

The university has pledged to take advantage of these disciplines to strengthen Tongnan district's five pillar industries, and to work together with the local government to build an innovation and business start-up chain featuring an "entrepreneur nursery-incubator-accelerator-industrial park" process.

Chongqing will also roll out programs on talent training and exchange and subject development with the five universities in the future.

Meanwhile, Nanjing University will soon establish an innovation and research institute in Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area with a focus on ecology, new materials, software engineering, AI, and electronic science.