The technology innovation center of Ordos Power and Metallurgical Group. [Photo/Ordos Release]

The city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has made a number of breakthroughs on clearing enterprises above designated size under its jurisdiction that don't have R&D investment, R&D institutions, or invention patents.

Ordos currently has a total of 463 industrial enterprises above designated size — those with annual sales above 20 million ($2.9 million).

Among them, 22 have made progress in R&D investment, R&D institutions, or invention patents.

To date, the city's enterprises above designated size have built 50 R&D institutions, declared 1,589 patents, and are expected to drive more than 1 billion yuan in R&D investment.

To push local enterprises to increase R&D investment, Ordos will not grant funding or subsidies to enterprises with no R&D investment. 

R&D investment is linked to the application of science and technology plan projects, science and technology awards, and the recommendation and recognition of high-tech enterprises.

Additionally, Ordos requires science and technology management departments to establish one-to-one work docking mechanisms to help enterprises establish R&D institutions, increase R&D investment, and make scientific and technological achievements with independent intellectual property rights.