Shaoxing in East China's Zhejiang province plans to establish 30 new workstations for academicians and experts in 2019, according to an official of the city's science and technology (S&T) association.

From 2010 to 2018, a total of 103 workstations of this kind were set up in Shaoxing. Over the past nine years, they have helped generate 28.47 billion yuan ($4.24 billion) in economic benefits through cooperation with local companies.

These stations, playing a vital role in Shaoxing's high-quality development, are regarded as the engines for the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, as well as the catalysts for the advancement of emerging industries.

In September of 2016, Zhejiang TUNA Environmental Science & Technology Co Ltd joined hands with Zhang Yi, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, to research the resource utilization of catalysts.

"The workstation is like a think tank which has greatly improved the company's research strength," said Li Zhefei, vice general manager of TUNA, adding that the mass application of new technologies is carving out a new path for the company's future development.

Zhejiang Runtu Co Ltd engages in the production and selling of disperse dyes. Currently, four experts in textiles, chemical equipment and atmospheric management have launched workstations at the Shaoxing company.

Ding Xingcheng, assistant to the chairman of Runtu, said that with the professional guidance from these experts, the company has been improving solutions to treating waste gas and water.

Zhejiang Jing Gong Technology Co Ltd produced more than 1,600 metric tons of carbon fiber in 2018, making it the second largest manufacturer of the material in China. The company's success is in part thanks to its cooperation with Yang Yuliang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Science.

Xiang Feng, general manager of the company, said the partnership with Yang helped them to avoid unexpected obstacles to research and development.

The latest data from Shaoxing's S&T association showed that by 2018, the workstations for academicians and experts had contributed to the building of 122 research platforms in local high-tech companies.

"The research findings from these experts, as well as their insights into the industrial structure, talent cultivation and platform building, are of great significance to Shaoxing's development," said an official from the S&T department.