SHI Xiaolin Inspected Tianfu Laboratories Construction, Urged Optimization of Science and Innovation, and Called for Accelerated Cultivation of New Growth Drivers for High-Quality Development

On March 25, SHI Xiaolin, Deputy Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Chengdu Municipal Party Committee, conducted an inspection of Tianfu New Area in Sichuan to assess the progress of Tianfu Laboratories. Following the visit, a symposium was held where SHI Xiaolin underscored the importance of thoroughly studying and implementing General Secretary XI Jinping’s discourse on technological innovation. Emphasizing the need to adhere to the directives of the Party Central Committee and the Provincial Party Committee, she highlighted the significance of focusing on the “Four Facings” — addressing global scientific and technological advancements, economic frontiers, national priorities, and public welfare. SHI Xiaolin urged for strategic alignment with urban development goals to effectively establish and leverage technological innovation platforms. Additionally, she emphasized the continual optimization of the technological innovation landscape, the expedited cultivation of new high-quality productive forces, and the concerted efforts to forge new growth drivers and strengths for achieving high-quality development.

With six major research areas, including clean and low-carbon energy, resource carbon neutrality, carbon capture and utilization, carbon sink and geological carbon sequestration, pollution and carbon reduction synergy, and carbon neutrality integration and coupling, Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory is the first laboratory in China to focus on “carbon neutrality.” On the afternoon of March 25, SHI Xiaolin visited the laboratory exhibition hall, the Research Center for New Principles and Technologies of Carbon Dioxide Capture, and the Research Center for New Power Systems. She engaged in in-depth exchanges with the research team to learn about the progress of scientific research, talent gathering, and market application. SHI Xiaolin encouraged the laboratory to fully utilize its platform advantages to gather more innovative resources and talents, accelerate technological breakthroughs, and achieve more scientific and technological advancements. She also expected the laboratory to strengthen collaboration and deepen cooperation with sectors such as industry, transportation, housing and construction, and culture and tourism in fields including circular economy development, virtual power plant construction, and carbon sink trading. This aims to innovate application scenarios and form a strong synergy.

SHI Xiaolin conducts research in Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory

Chengdu Science and Innovation Eco-Island, integrating five key functions, including aggregation of innovative elements, innovation transformation services, innovation achievements exhibition, emerging industries cultivation, and community life services, aims to create a comprehensive innovation transformation hub that integrates “gathering, services, exhibitions, and incubation.” SHI Xiaolin recently visited the Eco-Island to inspect the implementation of scientific and technological service functions and the operation of relevant carriers on site. SHI emphasized the need to coordinate resources at the provincial, municipal, and district levels, maximize the roles of higher education institutions, scientific research institutions, and science and technology innovation enterprises, and enhance both online and offline service networks through the “overground science and innovation island + cloud science and innovation communication” model. He called for continuous improvement and strengthening of functions such as element aggregation, achievement display, and application trading to build the Science and Innovation Island into a dynamic platform for interaction among various innovation elements.

At the symposium, the Chengdu Municipal Science and Technology Bureau provided an update on the overall construction progress of Tianfu Laboratories and outlined the next steps in their work plan. Representatives from Sichuan Tianfu New Area, Chengdu Eastern New Area, and Chengdu High-tech Zone also presented reports on the construction progress, market applications, and future plans for Tianfu Xinglong Lake Laboratory, Tianfu Yongxing Laboratory, Tianfu Jiangxi Laboratory, and Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory.

After listening to speeches of various institutions, SHI Xiaolin remarked that

Since the establishment of the Laboratory, the accelerated physical operation of innovation carriers, bolstered by strong support and active promotion from various provincial and municipal departments, has led to significant milestones in scientific research, market application, talent recruitment and development, and mechanism innovation. Authorities emphasize the need to bolster confidence and persist in efforts to foster a favorable innovation environment, driving scientific and technological advancements and market applications to further solidify the foundation and momentum of Tianfu Laboratories.

SHI Xiaolin stated that

It is essential to clarify target positioning to fully support national high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and achieve breakthroughs in critical “stranglehold” technologies. Additionally, efforts must focus on promoting the application of scientific and technological achievements, ensuring the development of new high-quality productive forces, and enhancing urban industrial levels and governance.

Enhancing support for the Laboratory’s construction is crucial. This involves refining work measures based on core functions, strengthening connections in funding, talent acquisition, and carrier construction. Additionally, efforts should promote the integration of the Laboratory with industrial ecosystem development, application scenario innovation, and governance improvement. The goal is to drive industrial innovation through technological advancements and empower high-quality development with new productive forces.

The Ministry of Science and Technology is set to announce a series of policies aimed at swiftly supporting the construction and development of Tianfu Laboratories. These policies, to be introduced in collaboration with relevant units, will prioritize comprehensive planning and resource integration. A mechanism dubbed “chain leader + industry departments + laboratory location” will be established to streamline operations. Emphasizing efficiency, the Ministry will adhere to the principle of “one room, one policy, one special work team”, working closely with the Laboratory’s main body and superior units. Additionally, collaboration with platforms, funds, enterprises, and talents will be fostered to expedite the formation of a closely-knit community. This approach aims to promote the high-quality “integration” operation of the Laboratory, facilitating the swift transformation of scientific and technological achievements into tangible production capacity.

WU Qungang, Director of the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, along with city leaders CAO Junjie, DU Haibo, and XU Xingguo, and ZHOU Xianyi, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Sichuan Tianfu New Area, were among the distinguished attendees at the symposium. Also present were relevant leaders from the National Sichuan-Tibet Railway Technology Innovation Center and Tianfu Laboratories, as well as leaders from pertinent district and municipal departments.