Zone points way for innovation

When Wang Hui submitted a job application to a government office in Wuhan, Hubei province, he did not expect to be interviewed by a panel consisting solely of internet company managers.

No officials from the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone, also known as the Optics Valley of China, which oversees the office, attended the interview.

Wang applied for a job in the government office for the development of the Internet Plus industry, whose roles include drawing up development plans and policies for the industry and supporting companies and major projects.

He said he was more surprised by the fact that the office engaged companies related to the concept of Internet Plus to determine its major tasks.

Last year, China announced the Internet Plus initiative to enable more businesses to take advantage of the internet.

"Engaging company bosses in this key process is very practical and democratic," said Wang, 36, a Wuhan University graduate.

Optics Valley authorities did not plan initially to assign decision-making to internet companies, but they later decided that the office should not be ruled by government and that companies should play key roles.

In 1985, the area that later became the valley was just a street housing more than 100 privately owned companies. Since then, bold concepts have been used to make the valley a key example of how China can adapt to changing economic scenarios.

In 1988, when the country was forging ahead with reform and opening-up, the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone was established in a city renowned for steel production that started as early as 1890.

The zone developed into a State-level base for the optical industry in 2001, when traditional industry witnessed the first round of massive nationwide layoffs.

After the 2008 global financial crisis and the drop in global demand for China's primary and secondary industry products, the zone's importance was further boosted in 2009 when it became the second innovation demonstration zone in China.

It now covers 518 square kilometers, and its mission is to lead change for innovation-driven development.

Dan Changchun, deputy director of the valley, said, "We focus on optical work, but more important, enhancing the concept of a valley." Dan added that more efforts will be made to create an environment that is favorable for innovation and business startups.

With the world's largest number of students receiving higher education - 1.18 million - Wuhan gives Optics Valley the edge to host more than 30,000 companies, including about 100 Fortune 500 firms.

Last year, corporate revenue in Optics Valley reached 1 trillion yuan ($153 billion), a year-on-year increase of 18 percent. The valley applied for more than 16,000 patents in 2015, more than three times the number in 2010.

The official development plan states, "The vision for the valley is for it to become a first-class high-tech zone, to create a center for innovation and startups of global influence and to reach our goal that the US has Silicon Valley and China has Optics Valley."

Dan said the zone encourages "culture shock" to bring in fresh blood.

"For example, we built an office building to be used by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which will probably not contribute any tax during my tenure. But Pfizer has brought its concepts to us."

Contact the writer at wanghuazhong@chinadaily.com.cn.

Workers inspect integrated circuits used for fiber optics communications at a FiberHome Technologies Group factory in the Optics Valley of China in Wuhan, Hubei province, on April 12. Feng Yongbin / China Daily