At a news conference on Jan 13, Chen Fang, deputy director of the Science and Technology Department of Ningxia, shared the region's accomplishments in using technological innovation to bolster key industries.
According to Chen, in 2024, Ningxia allocated 360 million yuan ($49.10 million) to support technological breakthroughs, which resulted in significant scientific achievements in sectors such as the modern coal chemical industry, new materials, clean energy, digital information, distinctive agriculture and animal husbandry, and cultural tourism.
In the industrial sector, CHN Energy Ningxia Coal Industry Co's coal-to-liquid technology was applied for the first time in the Long March carrier rockets. Wear Casting also developed high-speed rail sleeper beams for 400 km/h trains.
In agriculture, breakthroughs were made in extending the productive lifespan of dairy cows, increasing their average production lifespan from 2.3 to 2.8 lactations. The highest annual average milk yield per core breeding herd reached 14 metric tons.
A new salt-tolerant spring wheat variety yielded 372.42 kilograms per mu, marking a significant advancement in salt-tolerant crop breeding.
Ningxia exceeded 700 high-tech enterprises and provided 245 million yuan in research and development subsidies to over 1,700 enterprises. Through financial instruments like "Ningxia Technology Loans" and "Ningxia Technology Guarantees", 5.66 billion yuan in financial capital was mobilized to support enterprise innovation.
The region implemented 585 technology transfer projects last year, translating nearly 400 scientific achievements into practical applications.
Ningxia recorded 1,770 scientific achievements last year, a 41.7 percent increase over the previous year. Technology contract transactions totaled 4.79 billion yuan, up 18.2 percent from the previous year.
The Liupan Mountain Laboratory recruited and introduced 125 outstanding researchers, undertaking 23 fundamental research projects. Significant progress was made in intelligent casting, high-end materials, key generic technologies, and terminal applications.