A large pool of technical talent is providing consistent support to the growth of Dalian's machinery research and development sector.

The city boasts 18 universities and colleges as well as more than 100 research and development centers.

Official figures reveal there are 18 State academics of natural science and engineering, 120,000 undergraduates, 10,000 in-school doctors and postgraduates, 260,000 scientific research personnel and over 1,000,000, highly-qualified industrial workers.

Moreover, the city has an integrated science and technology education and research system, fostering the development of innovative ideas.

National level technology centers are the source of many new products.

The city now has seven national level technology centers, more than other cities of the same scale.

All the centers work in collaboration with enterprises and universities, enabling the smooth transformation of technological ideas into production.

Among the hundreds of new products made in the city every year, about 20 percent are created independently by the enterprises, but up to half are mutually developed by both the enterprise and universities and research institutes.

Financial support diverted into these technology centers accounts to more than 3 percent of sales revenue.

Except those domestic-based research centers, nine enterprises in the city have now set up research and development centers in foreign countries.

This enables foreign talent to contribute to technological development in Dalian.

The huge input into research and development and a scientific education system has enabled the city to sustain its momentum in developing new products.

According to official figures, the city has developed 6,500 new products since 2001.

Among 4,000 new products, 61 percent of them are considered at a level of highest technological standards.

(Shanghai Start 09/07/2007 page6)