Innovation surges across Ningbo

The Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center. [Photo/Yongpai App]

In early January, cheers erupted at the Sinopec Ningbo New Materials Institute as researchers confirmed a breakthrough: a key material for "artificial alveoli" achieved over 98 percent purity, marking a major step toward domestic production. The feat was another milestone for Ningbo, which has been experiencing an innovation boom.

From space to the deep sea, Ningbo's technologies are making an impact. High-end microscopes made in Ningbo are supporting experiments aboard China's space station, while advanced metal-ceramic composites developed by local teams have helped drill a 10,000-meter ultra-deep well.

A deep-sea testing device led by Ningbo researchers has been operating for 184 consecutive days at extreme depths, validating dozens of special coatings and materials. Meanwhile, humanoid robots developed and manufactured in the city have taken up quality inspection posts in overseas factories.

This momentum is rooted in two decades of strategic investment in science and technology.

Platforms such as the Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have grown from humble beginnings into major research hubs, anchoring a citywide innovation ecosystem.

In 2024, Ningbo's R&D spending exceeded 55.83 billion yuan ($8.12 billion) — more than 15 times that of 2006 and accounting for over 3 percent of the gross domestic product.

Enterprises are at the heart of this drive. Today, about 90 percent of R&D institutions and nearly 84 percent of invention patents in Ningbo come from companies. As innovation chains integrate ever more closely with industrial chains, the city is forging a dynamic ecosystem — fueling high-quality growth and shaping a new chapter in its development story.