Ningbo districts among China's top 100 innovators

"NAVIAI 2" produced by Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]

Three districts in Ningbo secured spots on the "Top 100 Innovative Districts (2025)" list published by the CCID Consulting Urban Economic Research Center. Yinzhou district ranked 25th, Beilun district 46th, and Haishu district 72nd, with each higher than last year.

Yinzhou district is a core driver of Ningbo's economy, with its gross domestic product exceeding 300 billion yuan ($41.13 billion) last year. In 2024, it added four national manufacturing champions, 15 "little giant" firms, 312 newly recognized high-tech enterprises as well as 1,285 national technology-based SMEs. Additionally, 48,000 young college graduates joined the district.

Beilun, known as the "Home of Chinese molds", has evolved into a leader in intelligent manufacturing. In 2024, the number of its high-tech enterprises surpassed 850, and the industrial R&D investment of above-designated-size enterprises reached 112.2 billion yuan.

Haishu district saw remarkable progress in 2024, adding 35 municipal-level research institutions. Its innovation platforms incubated over 93 tech companies, including seven national high-tech enterprises, which applied for 410 patents.

These districts demonstrate Ningbo's commitment to innovation and their vital role in advancing China's technological development. Nationally, these top 100 districts house over 151,000 high-tech firms, contributing to more than 30 percent of China's innovation output, exemplifying the synergy between technology, talent, and financial capital.