The Ningbo Academician Center is expected to begin operating in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, in October. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]

The Ningbo Academician Center is expected to begin operating in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province in October, according to local media reports.

A total of 34 academicians from home and abroad are set to work at the center. Among them, 12 have established long-term cooperative relations with Ningbo.

The center, located on Taogong Island in the Dongqian Lake scenic spot, is an effort by local authorities to attract high profile professionals to the city. It is also an integral part of the province's campaign to build high-quality facilities to accomodate top-tier talent.

With an investment of 500 million yuan ($74.6 million), the center, consisting of two teaching complexes, a canteen building and an apartment building, will cover an area of 52.7 mu (3.51 hectares).

It is designed as an academician workstation with a focus on innovation, academic exchange, consulting, training, and business incubation to fuel local strategic emerging industries and the service sector.  

The Ningbo Academician Center sits along Dongqian Lake, which is three times the size of West Lake in Hangzhou and the largest natural freshwater lake in Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]