Project representatives from Ningbo receive awards at the annual science and technology awards conference of East China's Zhejiang province on May 14. [Photo/cnnb.com] 

The annual science and technology awards conference of East China's Zhejiang province was held on May 14 to award 299 of the most outstanding science and technology achievements of the province over the past year. Ningbo had 51 technological projects that made the awards list, an increase of 41.7 percent year on year. 

The winning projects of the city mainly focus on new energies, new materials, smart manufacturing, electronic information, life sciences, auto parts and agricultural technology. 

Thirty-five of the projects involve the participation of companies, among which nine are solely accomplished by them, suggesting that companies have turned into an important participant and even leader in the city's scientific and technological innovation. 

The project of improving the microscopic image quality, jointly conducted by the local optical products manufacturer Novel, the Zhejiang University and the Ningbo University, won the second prize for scientific and technological progress. 

The project significantly enhanced the performance of high-end lab microscopes and plays a positive role in promoting the development of China's microscope industry.

Ningbo records a total of 157 projects that have won the provincial science and technology awards over the past four years, including four first-prize winners.