Liangjiang propels industrialization of sci-tech achievements

A bird's-eye view of the Chongqing Institute of Nanometal in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo by Xing Hongyu] 

Straighteners are busy running in Southwest Aluminum Group Co's manufacturing center. Since implementing the gradient nano straightening roller technology this January, the center has produced 20 million meters of aluminum.

This technology, provided by Chongqing Institute of Nanometal (CINM), is a result of Liangjiang New Area's innovative program to boost industrialization of sci-tech achievements. 

Jointly built by Liangjiang and an academician-led nanometal team, CINM is a research and development center that houses several cutting-edge original technologies. "We hope to apply the technologies to more industrial scenarios," said Yu Dongyi, the institute's head of sci-tech commercialization. 

As sci-tech industrialization requires collaboration with factories and tailored production lines, the institute's funding becomes a headache. Fundraising is a universal challenge for sci-tech research teams, as capital owners are reluctant to invest due to this field's high risk and long cycles.

In 2023, Liangjiang initiated the transformation of new-type research and development institutions, exploring a combined approach of funding and investment to support these institutions in focusing on industrial development.

Through various models such as funds, direct investments, and a combination of project funding and investment, a virtuous financial cycle is being created: "fiscal input - research output - operational revenue - reinvestment into fiscal resources and research institutions."

Backed by Liangjiang, CINM first worked with research institutes and companies nationwide to tackle key problems before successfully preparing and manufacturing gradient nanostructured layers on the industrial-grade roller surface.

"Successful transformation gives us the confidence to compete in the market," said Yu. CINM plans to set up a company with funding support from Liangjiang and convert that funding into equity.

Apart from funding support, Liangjiang has established 12 resource-sharing platforms, where more than 270 types of equipment worth 300 million yuan ($42.30 million) are available at only one-third of the market price.

"The high-precision 3D printing on the resource-sharing platform helped us manufacture over 100 uppercase modules and cut cost by 95 percent," said Li Cheng, who invented a braille display for the visually impaired community. The product received 500,000 yuan in seed funding from the Liangjiang government, and the company is now valued at 30 million yuan.

According to Li, the uppercase modules cannot be manufactured using traditional techniques and would cost 200,000 yuan for each iteration if the injection molding process is used. With the high-precision 3D printing technology, costs were significantly reduced. With 20 iterations, the cost was cut by over 2 million yuan.

Liangjiang is building an early-stage project support system that consists of government grants, investments, and seed funding. It will also support companies by enhancing equity funds such as Mingyue Lake funding and the science innovation fund, according to Xiang Yuewen, director of the area's science and technology innovation bureau.