The 2025 University Technology Transfer and Transformation Conference, held alongside the 2nd Suzhou International Sci-Tech Innovation Conference and the 17th Suzhou Entrepreneurship Week for International Elites, officially opened on July 10. Drawing over 1,700 guests from China and abroad, the high-profile event put a spotlight on innovation-driven growth and deepened collaboration among universities, enterprises, and investors.
At the exhibition area, Zhangjiagang-based enterprises stood out with cutting-edge products and technologies. Flagship innovations from Jiangsu Shagang Group and Space Pioneer earned nominations for "Suzhou's Top 10 Industrial Technology Achievements", underscoring their strong R&D capabilities.
In the Jiangsu pavilion of the National Regional Technology Transfer Center for Advanced Materials, the first industrialized project jointly developed by the Materials Academy of Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI) and Zhangjiagang enterprises made its debut. With a total investment of 1.5 billion yuan ($208.88 million), the project aims to build a high-end manufacturing base for stainless steel and special alloy forgings. Once it goes operational by the end of next year, it is expected to generate 2 billion yuan in annual sales, becoming a new growth engine for the city's economy.
Zhangjiagang's innovation potential was further highlighted when two of its local companies—Xtalsong Semiconductor Co and Zentek New Materials Co — were named among the "2024 Most Promising Startups Founded by Returnee Entrepreneurs", making Zhangjiagang the top-ranking county-level city nationwide in terms of the number of selected entries.
Also during the conference, Qingyuan robotics, a promising rehabilitation technology project in Zhangjiagang's Jinfeng town, signed an investment agreement to develop an integrated R&D, production, and service center, with plans to manufacture 1,000 units of rehabilitation equipment annually and achieve sales exceeding 200 million yuan once in full operation.
The conference also saw the official release of a major university-industry research project: a collaboration between Shagang Group and Central South University on advanced processes for producing ultra-thin non-oriented silicon steel. The initiative exemplifies Zhangjiagang's growing emphasis on transforming research into real-world industrial applications, propelling its ongoing shift toward high-end manufacturing and innovation-led development.
An aerial view of Zhangjiagang. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]