Wuxi boasts the only demonstration zone for sensor networks in China, the mayor told China Daily, adding the city has held the World Internet of Things Expo for three consecutive years and is accelerating the construction of an IoT technology innovation zone.

The city has more than 2,000 IoT-related enterprises with operating revenues reaching 263.9 billion yuan last year, an increase of 23.7 percent and taking up nearly half of the province's revenue.

"Innovation remains the major driving force of high-quality development in Wuxi," the mayor said, adding the city will keep promoting the construction of key innovative platforms, including the national IoT innovation center, a high-performance computing center and a deep sea equipment laboratory.

High-end international innovation centers, R&D centers of multinationals and international scientific organizations are welcome in Wuxi, Huang said. "Local enterprises are encouraged to cooperate with overseas R&D institutions and promote regional innovation capabilities."