With a huge talent pool and strong scientific research capacity, Chengdu has been home to 56 higher learning institutions and around 30 state-level research institutes including the Chinese Academy of Sciences Chengdu Branch. Currently, the construction of the Chengdu Science City, which is positioned as the top hi-tech innovation center in western China, is in full swing. In late August, the Beijing University came into an all-round strategic partnership with Chengdu and will bring in six academicians to the city. It is expected that Chengdu will have more than 30 hi-tech and innovation-oriented companies, each with an annual revenue hitting RMB10 billion, its gross output value from hi-tech industries will reach RMB2.5 trillion, and its science and technology will contribute over 70% to the local economy.

创意个性的成都方所书店

Chengdu Fangsuo Bookstore

Science and technology lead hi-tech innovation, and entrepreneurship drives industrial growth. In 2015, Chengdu was dubbed as one of the state's models for innovation and entrepreneurship of small & micro companies, and one of the innovation bases in China. Since last year, the city has been taking the lead in the country in implementing an ambitious mass innovation and entrepreneurship initiative. In the past year, it launched a total of 160 programs and events involving innovation and entrepreneurship, with the participation of more than 400,000 startups. In this year's first half, the city witnessed the registration of 150,000 new businesses, ranking second among 15 deputy-provincial cities across the country.