Domestic integrated circuit production a key to supply chain
Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area is focusing on the manufacture of key equipment in the integrated circuit industrial chain to bolster domestic capability and supply, aiming to play a leading role nationally in industrial circuits in five years.
The aim has been included into a document on the development of the area, also known as Beijing ETown, during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and long-range plans up to 2035.
According to document, the area will see its GDP exceed 380 billion yuan ($58.86 billion) and paid-in foreign investment surpass $2 billion by the end of 2025. The area will boast six innovative industrial clusters, each worth 100 billion yuan, by that time.
Li Jin, an executive from a company in the area, said it can produce a wide range of facilities and equipment to provide chipmakers with one-stop solutions.
Beijing ETown is well placed to develop in the IC sector. It houses leading companies, such as a branch of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp and Naura Technology Group, and has a well-established industrial chain.
The area will further highlight innovation and continue to enhance strengths in IC manufacturing and equipment during the 14th Five-Year Plan, according to local officials.
Among the area’s newest moves is the construction of an information technology application innovation park, which started in late June. It is planned to consist of five areas, including those focused on key devices, advanced chips and basic software, with its first phase covering an area of about 265,000 square meters.
The park will comprise office buildings, a commercial center, quality hotels and convention, exhibition and cultural centers. It will also develop into a pilot area for policies and standards related to autonomous driving and help to provide application scenarios for such high-tech projects.
The area’s GDP surpassed 200 billion yuan last year and its digital economy revenue is projected to increase by 15 percent on average annually by the end of 2025.
Scientific and technological commercialization is another highlight of the area. It will enhance the market mechanism and commercialize more than 150 scientific and technological projects from Zhongguancun Science City, Future Science City and Huairou Science City — three other main platforms for Beijing to promote its development as a scientific and technological innovation hub.
Beijing ETown also wants to improve infrastructure and public services to benefit local people. It will apply new-generation IT to urban management and work toward the country’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.