Jiading district, Shanghai decides to work with Tongji?University to build a science park and develop it into an innovation center with global influence. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]

Jiading district, Shanghai recently signed a cooperation agreement with Tongji?University to build a science park, and both parties have agreed to develop the park into an innovation center with global influence, according to a local news report on July 6.

The park is an effort of Jiaxing district government to advance the development of local emerging industries, including new energy and intelligent vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, intelligent networks, and smart healthcare. It is expected to achieve an?output?value?of 100 billion yuan ($14.3 billion) within five years.

Jiading and Tongji University also agreed to explore ways to promote educational reform and optimize the allocation of educational resources.

Lu Fangzhou, Party?secretary?of Jiading district, addressed the signing ceremony, saying that the industrial park is expected to serve as a platform for Jiading to deepen cooperation with colleges and universities and foster?new?drivers?of?economic growth.

Local authorities have said that the two sides have established a strong long-term partnership. The Jiading sub-park of the National Science and Technology Park of Tongji University co-founded by the two parties now plays a key role in accelerating Jiading's innovative development. It currently houses more than 300 enterprises focusing on new energy and intelligent vehicles.

Jiading is working to become a modern city with strong innovation capabilities and high-quality integrated?development. Its goal is to become a hub for high-end manufacturing and a major part of the Yangtze River Delta region.

The district will make full use of Tongji's academic strength and facilitate the integrated development of more disciplines and industries in an effort to speed up the commercialization of research findings.