Laoshan district in Qingdao has recently launched a united innovation center that combines local efforts and the joint forces of Chinese electronics manufacturer Goertek Inc and US telecommunications stalwart Qualcomm Inc.

The opening ceremony for the Qingdao Chip Valley- Qualcomm China- Goertek Joint Innovation Center was held on March 29 at Laoshan International Innovation Park. Its third co-founder is Qingdao Electronics Innovation Center Co.

The center was set up with the aim of making technological breakthroughs in intelligent audio, virtual reality/augmented reality, smart wearable equipment and other intelligent hardware. It also eyes advances in the Internet of Things. To achieve this goal, the center will provide technical assessment, R&D guidance, testing and certification services.

Comprised of two parts, the center's exhibition area will display updated products and solutions in the aforementioned sectors while the innovation laboratory will be fitted with first-class testing equipment. Qualified innovative enterprises and startups will have access to technical assessment, preliminary development guidance, experimental tests and system compatibility tests.

Frank Meng, chairman of Qualcomm China, said that the center is committed to bringing Qualcomm's state-of-the-art technology and innovative ideas to local enterprises, thus helping them grow rapidly. Qualcomm's partners from other places are also expected to come to Qingdao with the encouragement of the company.

Meanwhile, Weifang-headquartered Goertek will exploit its technical advantages to achieve a common breakthrough in cutting-edge technologies with Qualcomm. According to Yu Dachao, vice chairman of Goerteck, Qualcomm is taking the lead in making 5G a reality and the two companies are currently conducting pre-development on 5G as well as VR and AR.

Wang Qingyuan, deputy secretary of the CPC Laoshan District Committee, said the center will be of great importance in developing a microelectronics industrial ecosystem in Laoshan.

Laoshan can draw wisdom from not only this center but also the Qingdao EDA Center led by the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) as well as the advanced packaging technology public service center, according to a local official.

Laoshan is forging a leading position in the microelectronics sector along China's northern coastal belt and is striving to become Qingdao's chip valley. It is currently home to 38 microelectronics projects and 20 related enterprises that been located in its International Innovation Park.