On August 25, Hohhot convened a conference to deepen the integration of technological and industrial innovation, unveiling a new policy package designed to accelerate the city's transformation into an innovation-driven economy. The Measures for Advancing Deep Integration of Technological Innovation and Industrial Innovation, along with an implementation plan, outline 20 specific actions to place economic and social development on an innovation-driven path, with the ultimate goal of establishing Hohhot as a key growth pole for high-quality development in northern China.
The city's resolve is rooted in its existing strengths. The National Dairy Technology Innovation Centre has achieved a significant breakthrough by shortening dairy-cattle breeding evaluation from four years to 45 days and cultivating China's first probiotic strain for infants derived from Chinese breast milk, contributing to the 'Dairy Capital of China' vision. In the Horinger New District, a major scientific facility for aerospace and cross-scale metrology is under construction, benchmarked against international standards. Inner Mongolia University of Technology has launched the region's first new-energy industrial large model, while a domestic enterprise, the only one capable of consistently producing 4N5 high-purity germanium, is addressing critical raw-material bottlenecks for quantum technology and calcium-titanium mineral photovoltaics.
To back these initiatives with tangible commitment, Hohhot plans to double municipal fiscal investment in science and technology in 2026 and again in 2027. Newly recognized national-level innovation platforms will receive a one-off research grant of RMB 3 million, and each 'Qingcheng Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent' may receive up to RMB 500,000 in research support. By 2030, the city aims to attract 10 additional academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as 50 high-level innovation teams. The city will also provide inclusive computing-power vouchers, model vouchers, and token vouchers to technology-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises, following a policy approach of 'enjoy benefits without application and receive them directly and swiftly,' thereby lowering barriers to innovation.
Openness is a defining feature of Hohhot's strategy. Leveraging the Hohhot Area of the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the city is building an international science and technology cooperation base with countries along the Belt and Road. It is also deepening coordination with Beijing's Haidian District through a 'two-hour innovation circle,' exploring a model where research and development occur elsewhere but results are transformed and applied in Hohhot. This approach underscores the city's understanding that innovation cannot thrive in isolation.
Drawing on its cultural heritage, Hohhot embodies the resilience and determination of the Mongolian horse, combined with the breadth and inclusiveness of the grasslands. From the 'Dairy Capital of China' to the 'Cloud Valley,' and from the pastures of Chilechuan to the computing-power clusters of Horinger, the city is evolving into a green city of innovation. Hohhot extends an invitation to the world, offering supportive policies, real-world application scenarios, and a genuine commitment to partnership, alongside a vast landscape for those who strive and build for the future.
