Taishan Fiberglass, a Tai'an-based company specializing in fiberglass production, had an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tons and a profit of 3.5 billion yuan ($516.74 million) in 2021.

The company's glass fiber kiln produces glass fiber with a single diameter of only 10 microns, which is equivalent to one-tenth that of a human hair, and leads the world in operation efficiency, said Liu Honggang, the deputy general manager of the company.

The development of Taishan Fiberglass exemplifies Tai'an's in-depth implementation of an innovation-driven development strategy and is accelerating the construction of an innovative city.

Tai'an has been beefing up its efforts to accelerate the research and development and scientific and technological innovation, which are vital for high-quality development.

Tai'an has put emphasis on the construction of sci-tech platforms, such as the Taishan Innovation Valley, company innovation, and has increased the city's funds for sci-tech innovation development by 10 percent year-on-year.

For example, Shandong Pengbo Bio-Technology Co, one of Tai'an's top 50 innovation companies, has been granted three invention patents and applied for nine patents since it settled in the valley.

In addition, sci-tech innovation has contributed to economic transformation and upgrading in the city. During the first half of this year, the added value of Tai'an's high-tech manufacturing sector increased 81.2 percent year-on-year and the added value of industries above designated size increased 8.6 percent year-on-year.

Tai'an also boasts talent resources for innovative development as it is home to over 10 higher-education institutions and research institutes such as Shandong Agricultural University and Shandong University of Science and Technology, and a total of 170,000 students and 15,000 teachers.

In order to attract more high-end talents, Tai'an launched an enhanced version of talent policies in May, including financial subsidiaries. 

Tai'an plans to continue to bolster its efforts to develop innovation as a first driving force to create a high-energy level sci-tech achievement transfer and innovation hub in order to boost the city's high-quality development, said Yang Hongtao, Party secretary of Tai'an.