Zou Yong: Planning a high quality Nansha Science City

At the recently concluded 2023 Greater Bay Area Science Forum's session on the development of Nansha Science City, Zou Yong, former deputy director and inspector of the Regional Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, delivered a keynote speech titled "Planning and Constructing Nansha Science City with High Quality".

Below is an excerpt from his speech.

Zou Yong, former deputy director and inspector of the Regional Department of the National Development and Reform Commission [Photo/gsf.org.cn]

To fully understand the difficulties in the construction of Nansha Science City

There are four major challenges faced by Nansha Science City: a relatively weak foundation in terms of talent attraction; late planning leading to competition from surrounding science cities; limited available land; and the difficulty in securing sufficient funding for the project. It is necessary to form a synergy of funds from the government, institutions and the market, increase the amount, and ensure the orderly progress of the planning.

Target-oriented to maintain the strategic position of the science city

According to the "Overall Plan for Promoting Comprehensive Cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao by Further Deepening Opening-up in Nansha District of Guangzhou" (referred to as "the Nansha Plan"), Nansha Science City has four roles:

- The main carrier of the comprehensive national science center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area;

- A key carrier of innovation and development for the GBA international technological innovation center;

- A global innovation center for marine science and engineering;

- A strategic industrial source for leading high-quality development;

and an experimental zone for policy reform and innovation development.

Additionally, the Nansha Plan has set a goal for Nansha Science City by 2035: to become a first-class science city that generates profound ideas, outstanding talents, significant achievements, and future industries.

A design of the Nansha Science City [Photo/gsf.org.cn]

Giving full play to strengths and promoting the high-quality development of Nansha Science City

First, the key to the high-quality development of Nansha Science City is to highlight its ecological advantages and the concept of green development.

Second, it aims to enhance the comprehensive service functions of the city and build a digital green city that is suitable for research, education, industry, and living to attract and retain talents.

Third, Nansha Science City targets a number of international scientific research institutions and  universities with high standards and cultivating talents with master's and doctorate degrees to do vital research.

Fourth, it will strengthen cooperation and coordination with other science cities, such as Songshan Lake Science City in Dongguan, Guangming Science City in Shenzhen, and Huangpu Science City, to form synergy and achieve quality development.

Last, Nansha Science City plans to fully leverage the coordinating mechanism established by the Guangzhou government to ensure close cooperation and proper implementation of Nansha Science City's construction.

Taking technology as the core, striving to create China's second Zhongguancun

Challenged by technological transformation, Nansha needs to explore its own development pattern. It should actively learn from the successful development model of the Zhongguancun Science Park that was established as a high-tech industrial development zone approved by the State Council in 1988.

It strives to create a special zone in the GBA for talents, with favorable policies for their attraction and development, and actively engage in domestic and international academic exchanges and cooperation, such as organizing the Greater Bay Area Science Forum. After the production of scientific and technological achievements, it will consider the possibility of holding an S&T achievements trading expo.

Based in Nansha, we should also prioritize the technological development needs of Nansha, promoting the integration between science and industry, industry and the city as well as science and the city.