At a ceremony held on May 27, some 25 projects from the Guian New Area – located in Southwest China's Guizhou province – won a provincial science and technology award.

Taking home a first prize was a key technology and engineering application for tunnel construction in areas with frequent geological disasters, developed by China Railway 17th Bureau Group City Construction Co.

The technology can reportedly prevent geological disasters in the long term and has been applied in a dozen tunnels in Guizhou and Sichuan provinces.

In addition, 10 Guian projects won a second prize and 14 won a third prize.

In recent years, Guian has been committed to technological innovation and has established a working mechanism to encourage startups and innovation – as well as cooperate with local companies – and establish cultivation platforms for sci-tech innovation and startups.

By the end of last year, Guian was home to more than 50 sci-tech innovation platforms.

In 2021, Guian had 114 companies receiving services from sci-tech incubators, organized universities and companies to participate in various startup and innovation competitions, and its resident companies won 15 national prizes and 225 provincial prizes.

With policy guidance, platform support – and the integration of companies, universities and research institutions – Guian has been improving its regional sci-tech innovation ability and promoting the commercialization of its sci-tech research results.

Last year, a technology contract registration station was established in the new area and achieved a total contract turnover of 406 million yuan ($60.65 million).

Moving forwards, plans are for Guian to continue to establish cooperation platforms for universities and companies. This will help meet their needs for technologies and talent and promote the integrated development of sci-tech innovation and the real economy, creating a sound environment for sci-tech innovation.