The Nantong Incubation Base of East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) National Technology Transfer Center, located in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA), was officially put into operation on March 18, following the signing of agreements on the first batch of six biomedical projects‌.

This collaboration between NETDA and ECUST represents a critical part of efforts to implement the Yangtze River Delta integration strategy and the Yangtze River Estuary industrial innovation synergy zone initiative‌.

During the inauguration event, the ECUST alumni biomedical technology innovation fund was unveiled, alongside the "Nengda Cup" talent innovation roadshow for healthcare and cooperation exchange activities‌.

NETDA currently hosts about 4,100 mu (273.33 hectares) of biomedical infrastructure, including the Medical Health Industrial Park and Nengda Biomedical Innovation Park. The area has established a comprehensive R&D-manufacturing-application ecosystem for the biomedical and healthcare industry, achieving an industrial scale of 26.8 billion yuan ($3.69 billion) in 2024‌.

Moving forward, NETDA plans to leverage the ECUST incubation base as a strategic pivot to amplify the synergistic effects of industry-university collaboration, aiming to establish a new biomedical hub in the Yangtze River Delta region‌.

An aerial view of the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area. [Photo/WeChat account:gh_78ba52d6e1ed]