Zhangjiagang possesses numerous comprehensive strengths in sci-tech. It has been honored with National Sci-tech Progress Leading Cities award seven consecutive times, National Sustainable Development Experimental Zone, National Intellectual Property Right (IPR) Demonstration City and Jiangsu Provincial Innovation Pilot City.

In 2017, it led nationwide cities and counties in the National IPR Demonstration City evaluation. The city’s sci-tech progress contributed 63 percent to its development. It ranked 2nd among the province’s cities and counties in terms of the quantity of granted and invention patents. It has 393 high-tech enterprises ranking second among Suzhou's cities and counties. It has a strong innovation environment. It established China’s first Sci-tech Innovation Score System, and led Suzhou in exploring fund management strategies for industries, colleges, institutions and pre-research projects.

By the end of 2017, its input accounted for 2.8 percent of the city’s GDP. Growth in research, experiments and development expenses grew to 10%. The sci-tech progress in the city contributed 63.2 percent to its GDP, ranking first among Suzhou's cities and counties. At least 99.3 percent of large and medium-sized enterprises and high-tech enterprises above the statistical threshold have established R&D institutions, ranking first among Suzhou's cities and counties. Around 13 industrial technology institutes have been built. Ten new R&D institutions are in the planning and construction stages. At least 10 sci-tech enterprise incubators and 11 makerspaces have been established at the provincial level and above.