Approved by the State Council, the Yantai High-Tech Industrial Development Zone was established in 1990. The national development zone is one of China's first science and technology industrial parks open to APEC and the first Sino-Russia cooperation demonstration base for new and high-tech industrialization. It is home to “one development zone and four industrial parks”, namely the Core Development Zone, Laishan APEC Industrial Park, Fushan High-Tech Industrial Park, Zhifu APEC Science and Technology Industrial Park, and the Wolong Economic Park.

In recent years, the zone has aimed to become a top-ranking, internationalized and innovation-oriented facility for marine economy. It focuses on high-end manufacturing such as marine bio-medicine, aviation and aerospace technology, and electronic information, as well as high-end service industries such R&D, incubation, software outsourcing, headquarter economy, finance & business, and cultural creativity.

The development zone speeds up industrial system improvement and cultivates and pushes forward strategic emerging industries. Moreover, it strengthens distinctive industrial clusters development at a faster pace and devotes major efforts to strategic emerging industries. With years of work, the zone intends to become a domestic leader and an international well-known science and technology zone in strategic emerging and high-end industries.

The zone employed the strategy of science and technology development, promoted innovation and startup platform development, and improved service system for innovation and entrepreneurship. The development zone actively boosts cooperation among industries, academies and research institutes and deepens international cooperation in science and technology. It has made great strides in improving independent innovation capacity. The zone has offered preferential policies to attract talent, giving them advantageous platforms and quality services.

Targets

The Yantai High-Tech Industrial Development Zone aims to become a top-ranking, internationalized and innovation-oriented zone for the marine economy. It spares no efforts in developing Yantai into a dynamic and attractive city with concentrating innovation resources, distinct industrial characteristics, favorable innovation environment, perfect urban functions, pleasant ecological environment, and a advanced and harmonious culture society.

The development zone is an important base for strategic emerging industries and marine economy, a science and technology collaboration with Russia and other countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as well as APEC. The zone plays an important role in science and technology cooperation between China and Japan and South Korea.

Industrial layout

The zone highlights cultivation and development of strategic emerging industries with a focus on high-end manufacturing such as marine bio-medicine, aviation and aerospace technology, and electronic information. It also focuses on high-end services such as R&D, incubation, software outsourcing, headquarter economy, finance & business, and cultural creativity. An array of innovative enterprises have taken roots, including Shandong International Biotechnology Park, Tuopubang Biotechnology Park, Dongfang Sky Comprehensive R&D and Production Base for Titanium Alloy Fastener, Aviation and Aerospace Science and Technology Park, Yantai Wisdom City Industrial Park, Dongfang Intelligence Science and Technology Park, and Zhengyuan Geomatics Industrial Park. With the approval of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Yantai High-Tech Industrial Development Zone is included in the National Torch Program as a distinctive industrial base in marine bio-medicine.