HARBIN, April 11 (Xinhua) — With accelerated efforts in the emerging low-altitude economy, continuous optimization of the new materials industry structure, and rapid expansion of the bioeconomy ecosystem, April in Heilongjiang Province witnesses a vibrant season of high-quality development. By adapting new industrialization strategies to local conditions, enhancing the business environment, and fostering new industries, advantages, and momentum, Heilongjiang innovatively explores practices to develop new productive forces.

On April 3, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) products were captured at the Harbin United Aircraft Large Unmanned Helicopter Industrial Base.

Captured by Zhu Yue, Xinhua News Agency

Embracing New Frontiers and Innovating Low-Altitude Industries

On April 3, a groundbreaking ceremony for major provincial projects was held in Pingfang District, Harbin, with the main venue set at the Harbin United Aircraft base.

"We selected the site in mid-January, and by April 3, the 2.5 billion yuan base officially began construction, a testament to the government's remarkable efficiency," remarked Sun Liye, General Manager of Harbin United Aircraft Technology Co., Ltd., amidst his busy schedule. The project, due for completion by 2027, includes a large unmanned helicopter research institute, manned-to-unmanned aircraft conversion facilities, and a UAV production base. It's projected to yield an annual output value of 1 billion yuan, boosting the drone industry's economic scale to over 5 billion yuan.

Heilongjiang, a traditional industrial base in Northeast China, accelerates its pursuit of the new low-altitude economy frontier, epitomizing China's focus on nurturing this emerging sector.

The Central Economic Work Conference in late 2023 proposed fostering strategic emerging industries like biomanufacturing, commercial aerospace, and the low-altitude economy. This year, "low-altitude economy" was incorporated into the government work report, emphasizing its role as a "new growth driver."

Huo Guanglei, Secretary-General of the Heilongjiang Aviation Industry Association, states that the low-altitude economy symbolizes new productive forces. With a robust aviation industry foundation and diverse application scenarios, Heilongjiang's development in this area is both situational and timely.

"The low-altitude economy bridges manufacturing with the digital economy and new consumption patterns, holding immense potential for industrial upgrades and new business models," says Liao Xiaofang, Director of Pingfang District’s Industry, Information, and Science & Technology Bureau. "Pingfang will prioritize the United Aircraft base to expand drone manufacturing, drive regional drone industry growth, seize the new low-altitude economy track, and chart a broader 'airspace territory.'"

Harbin OrientGene Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.'s production line. Provided by Xinhua News Agency (Archive Photo)

Innovating to Foster New Dynamics and Enlarging the Bioeconomy Circle

On January 22, OrientGene 's signing ceremony and the launch of its quantum dot new products marked the debut of 20 new in-vitro diagnostic reagents developed by Harbin OrientGene Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., barely a year since settling in Pingfang District (Harbin Economic & Technological Development Zone).

"Forthcoming 20 products within a year are a result of the strong support from Heilongjiang Province, Harbin City, and Pingfang District governments," notes Fang Xiaoliang, General Manager of OrientGene. "It underscores the region's improving business environment and commitment to technological innovation."

As one of Heilongjiang's four new economic engines, Pingfang District leverages the strengths of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Harbin Veterinary Research Institute (HVRI) in animal health and biosafety research to foster an innovation-driven bioeconomy ecosystem. In 2023, it accomplished 23 key tasks, including the OrientGene project, Enwei Bio's new animal vaccine research, and Guosheng Bio's digital GMP workshop for animal diagnostics, with all 14 major projects commencing construction.

"Forming new productive forces necessitates scientific and technological innovation leadership," asserts Yu Zhen, Director of the Harbin ETZ Management Committee and Pingfang District Mayor. "Innovation-led industrial rejuvenation and the acceleration of new productive force formation are pivotal for Pingfang (Harbin ETZ) to forge new competitive edges and seize developmental initiatives."

In 2023, Pingfang saw 200 high-tech firms approved, 723 patents authorized, two additional national specialized and innovative "Little Giant" firms (totaling 19, 47.5% of the city's total), five new provincial digital (smart) workshops (totaling 37, 33% of the city's total), and two new provincial smart factories (constituting 60% of the city's total).

The ongoing Polyimide Bushing Parts Full-Industry-Chain Project has completed two workshops and is expected to finish construction in October.

Provided by Xinhua News Agency, Captured by Wang Yufeng and Ding Lei

In early April, the Polyimide Bushing Parts Full-Industry-Chain Project resumed energetically. The large-scale project in Jiamusi City's Huachuan County continues to spark enthusiasm among locals.

"This project is exceptionally advanced" and "swift in progress," locals comment.

"It steers our ETZ towards specialization, sophistication, uniqueness, and innovation, aligning us with the new productive forces express," remarks Chen Deyou, Director of the Jiaoxi Economic Development Zone Administration.

"After submitting designs, we simply awaited move-in, experiencing transformative surprises here," says Wang Min, General Manager of Heilongjiang Yongling Aviation Materials Co., Ltd., reflecting on their investment.

Their project, with a total investment of 260 million yuan and spanning 35,000 square meters, aims to complete in October, with an estimated short-term annual output value of 300 million yuan and taxes of 100 million yuan, potentially exceeding 1 billion yuan in the long run.

Polyimide, a critical polymer material hindering China's high-tech industry, is utilized in aerospace engine components with high technical barriers. The Huachuan project focuses on the entire polyimide bushing parts industry chain, enabling the production of high-end materials and their conversion into aerospace parts post-operation.

On April 6, over 100 constructors were diligently working at the site, with buildings rising and excavations and reinforcements in progress, painting a vivid picture of development. "Two workshop structures are complete, and the project is on track for an October finish," Liu Baishun, the project manager, introduces.

"Frankly, my impressions of Northeast China have been positively transformed," Wang Min admits. "This is indeed fertile ground for investing in and advancing new productive forces."