Eight key projects settled in the 2nd phase of China Nano Valley/photo by Li Jianfeng

China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC), a state-level bilateral project, utilized 1.557 billion USD of foreign capital and witnessed 12 China-Singapore cooperative projects with over 3 billion RMB investment signed in the first half year of 2023, according to the government of Huangpu District of Guangzhou on July 29.

The project of “Yuexintong” was highlighted as it started operation in June, which is the 1st cross-border data line in South China. The line aims to strengthen cooperation between China and Singapore in the fields of technological innovation and smart city construction. It ensures the secure flow of cross-border data through an exclusive network platform and provides efficient, secure, legal, and compliant channels for enterprises that have settled in CSGKC.

The 2nd phase of China Nano Valley opened on July 29. Eight key projects settled in the industrial park on the same day, three launched by South China University of Technology: the Super Robot Research Institute, Green Advanced Materials Research Institute, and Advanced Paper-based Materials Innovation Center.

The other five projects cover such fields as new materials, intelligent equipment, artificial intelligence, pharmaceutical research and development, semiconductor, sports training, and enterprise services. Major scientific research platforms and unicorn enterprises participated in these projects, connecting CSGKC with strategic emerging industry resources.

Niu Anda, Vice General-Manager of SCI Group, introduced that the total construction area of China Nano Valley is about 1 million square meters and will be constructed in three phases. The first and third phases have completed construction, which is where Biosyngen, Guangzhou Disruptive Technology Innovation Center, and Canchip have settled.

“As the construction of the second phase is completed, China Nano Valley will become a leading nanotechnology industrial cluster, promoting the development of new material industry in CSGKC,” said Niu.

The 2nd phase of China Nano Valley/photo by Li Jianfeng

Talking about the plan for the second half of 2023, Cao Peng, Vice Head of CSGKC Development and Construction Office, said that CSGKC would facilitate the development of modern industries and stimulate sci-tech innovation, including the fields of biotechnology, telecommunication, semiconductor, integrated circuit, and intelligent electronic devices.

To further China-Singapore cooperation, the cooperation with the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University will be further strengthened to connect with the international resources in Singapore.

“We will strive to complete the construction of Zhishi Dadao Avenue (from Chonggang Street to Jiulong Dadao Avenue) by September. Then the travel time from CSGKC to the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport will be shortened to 25 minutes,” said Zhang Shouzhong, the Chief Economist of CSGKC Construction and Management Center.

Xu Feiyue, President of Guangzhou Hongtu Technology (Holdings) Co., Ltd, noted the company’s plan for the project in CSGKC. Guangzhou Hongtu is expected to operate at full capacity in two years, with nearly 1 billion RMB in revenue. The company will have its annual profit taxes reach about 12 million RMB and create over 200 jobs.

According to Xu, it took only nine months for Guangzhou Hongtu to be put into production in the CSGKC, setting a new record for the shortest construction time in the die-casting industry.

In addition, five projects in CSGKC that made slow progress and failed to meet expectations were alerted on July 29.

According to the district government, Huangpu has advanced infrastructure to support the construction of these projects. Wang Yi, Vice General Manager of Huangpu District Power Supply Bureau, noted that the total investment in the power grid construction in Huangpu is about 1.3 billion RMB, of which the investment in CSGKC accounts for more than 60 percent.

“CSGKC has a high-standard and reliable power supply. Three 220 kV electrical substations have been put into operation within 29 days. The average annual power outage time is less than 2 minutes,” said Wang.

Modern industries have been developed in CSGKC, featuring the industrial clusters of biopharmaceuticals, integrated circuits, and new energy vehicles. As of June 2023, the fixed assets investment has accumulated over 400 billion RMB, with an average annual growth rate of 29.2 percent in the past five years.

Thus far, 24,500 market entities have been registered in CSGKC with a capital of more than 620 billion RMB. More than 154 projects are under construction. The output value is estimated to exceed 550 billion RMB after all the projects are completed and put into operation.