East China's Shandong province has been ramping up efforts to improve its innovation capabilities to facilitate regional high-quality development, according to local authorities.

An employee works on the assembly line of a carmaker in Qingzhou, Shandong province. [Photo by Wang Jilin/For China Daily]

Innovation is a key index to measure the level of economic and social development in a region. Innovation ability affects the prospects of a region's high-quality development, said local officials, adding that the province is aiming to buildi an innovative province with measures to support the "Four New" economies and the development of high-tech industries.

Scientific and technological innovation is a powerful engine driving the transformation of old and new growth drivers. Shandong has implemented the strategy of innovation-driven development, strengthening Shandong through science and education, as well as high-caliber human resources in an effort to build a comprehensive innovation system.

Starting from 2020, the Shandong government has set up funds for technological innovation and development of no less than 12 billion yuan ($187.8 million) annually. The fund was increased to 13.2 billion yuan in 2021.

The province has promoted the deep integration of innovation and industrial chains, as well as carried out nearly 300 major projects on integrated systems. It has strengthened the supporting role of major scientific and technological innovation platforms, as well as built 21 State key laboratories and 239 provincial key laboratories.

Statistics show that in the national innovation and efficiency evaluation, Shandong won 11 awards in four categories, ranking first in the country. By the end of last year, there were more than 14,000 high-tech enterprises in Shandong. Their share of output value increased from 35 percent in 2017 to 45.1 percent in 2020.