On August 25, Hohhot convened a conference to advance the integration of technological and industrial innovation, unveiling a set of 20 measures and an implementation plan designed to place economic and social development on an innovation-driven path. The move is part of the city's strategy to emerge as a key growth pole for high-quality development in northern China.
The measures reflect a clear-eyed resolve, as articulated at the conference: "The less developed a region is, the more it needs to pursue an innovation-driven development strategy." This resolve is underpinned by tangible strengths. The National Dairy Technology Innovation Centre has shortened dairy-cattle breeding evaluation from four years to just 45 days and cultivated China's first probiotic strain for infants derived from Chinese breast milk, helping the "Dairy Capital of China" advance toward becoming a global dairy hub. A major scientific facility for aerospace, sky-to-ground, cross-scale metrology is rising in Horinger New District, and Inner Mongolia University of Technology has launched the region's first new-energy industrial large model. Additionally, a domestic enterprise, the only one capable of producing 4N5 high-purity germanium products consistently, is helping overcome raw-material bottlenecks in quantum technology and photovoltaics.
The city's commitment is also fiscal. Municipal investment in science and technology will double in 2026 and double again in 2027. Newly recognized national-level innovation platforms will receive a one-off research grant of RMB 3 million, and each "Qingcheng Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent" may receive up to RMB 500,000 in research support. By 2030, Hohhot aims to attract an additional 10 academicians and 50 high-level innovation teams. Through a policy approach of "enjoy benefits without application and receive them directly and swiftly," the city will provide inclusive computing-power vouchers, model vouchers, and token vouchers to technology-oriented SMEs, lowering barriers to innovation.
Openness is a defining feature of Hohhot's strategy. Leveraging the Hohhot Area of the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the city is building an international science and technology cooperation base with countries along the Belt and Road. It is also deepening coordination with Beijing's Haidian District through a "two-hour innovation circle," exploring a pathway where R&D takes place elsewhere while results are transformed and applied in Hohhot. This approach underscores the city's understanding that innovation cannot thrive in isolation.
Like the Mongolian horse, Hohhot is resilient and determined. From the "Dairy Capital of China" to China's "Cloud Valley," the city is transforming into a hub of innovation. Hohhot extends an invitation to the world, offering supportive policies, real-world application scenarios, and a genuine commitment to partnership. The city's message is clear: join hands with those who strive and build for the future.
