Taishan district of Tai'an was included among the 10 counties and districts in Shandong province for science and technology innovation in 2023, the provincial department of science and technology announced recently.

In 2023, Taishan district bolstered efforts to implement the innovation-driven development strategy, optimize innovation environment, and increase investment in scientific and technological innovation so as to enhance its leading role in driving the high-quality development of the district's economy.

In 2023, the district invested 1.56 billion yuan ($218 million) in research and development, a year-on-year increase of 10.6 percent. It established seven municipal key laboratories, two municipal new research and development institutions, and obtained more than 23 scientific and technological achievements with honors at the municipal-level or above.

The district also made significant progress in promoting the upgrading of scientific and technological enterprises, with 213 national science and technology small and medium-sized enterprises included in the database and 40 new national high-tech enterprises.

To promote scientific and technological innovation, the district has regarded talent as the core driving force for scientific and technological innovation. The district also held a series of events to attract high-end talent and promote industry-university-research cooperation throughout the year.

Through its collaboration with more than 50 domestic and foreign universities, the district has made 51 achievements, resolved over 100 technical problems, and secured the approval of one provincial-level maritime intelligence work base.