A one-time reward of 5.7 million yuan ($896,085) will be granted to the technical centers of 19 local municipal-level companies by the Zhanjiang government to support research and development (R&D).

Among these technical centers, five are located in Lianjiang, two in Wuchuan, one in Potou district, three in Suixi county, three in Mazhang district, and five in the Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone.

To propel the development of traditional industries, Zhanjiang launched a specialized fund for technical transformation last July. Benefits include the elimination of obsolete equipment, intellectualized transformation of production lines, and an increase in productivity.

Meanwhile, companies have been encouraged to set up R&D centers and cultivate their own brands. The government will support three key industries – aquatic processing, household appliances, and sugar manufacturing – in moving toward intellectualization through innovation and the use of automated equipment.

An employee inspects automation equipment at Zhanjiang Chenming Group. [Photo by Lang Shuchen/Zhanjiang Daily]