Zhongguancun, Beijing's answer to Silicon Valley, has been ramping up efforts in recent years to bolster its tech sectors including artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and industrial internet. 

Major technological breakthroughs were made in Zhongguancun, and many key technologies with independent intellectual property rights from the area are world-class and even leading the world. 

One of the examples is a robot in orthopedic surgery. Developed by TINAVI Medical Technologies, the robot can be used in surgeries of the limbs, neck, waist, chest, and other areas of the body with 0.8 millimeter precision. This type of robot reduces the time, risk and radiation during the operation. It has been put into use in over 40 hospitals across the country and has successfully helped doctors in over 4,500 surgeries.

In recent years, Zhongguancun is looking to become a leading global AI innovation hub. According to data from iyiou.com, a website that tracks news about AI, Zhongguancun is now home to 400 AI companies, accounting for 25 percent of the total in China. Over half of the country's major AI research institutions are located there, including more than 10 national key laboratories. 

These AI companies together foster an industrial chain with high-end chip makers, basic software and core algorithm developers, and a complete solution for the AI industry as whole, helping Zhongguancun to become the largest and most influential AI innovation cluster in China.

World-leading AI technologies developed in Zhongguancun include the supercomputing center of deep learning, the first AI chip used in the internet of things, and a facial recognition technology that was recognized by MIT Technology Review as the world's 10 breakthrough technologies.

Data from Zhongguancun shows that high technology industries including AI and integrated circuit have generated a total revenue of 4 trillion yuan (US$590 billion), accounting for 70 percent of all revenues of companies in Zhongguancun.

In addition to the AI sector, Zhongguancun has made progresses in technological innovations in integrated circuit, 5G, graphene materials, liquid metal manufacturing, AMOLED, medicine, and medical instrument.

Zhai Lixin, director of the Zhongguancun Science Park Administrative Committee, said improving the capacity in independent innovation has always been the top priority. Zhongguancun has introduced preferential policies for 10 industries, such as big data, internet plus, integrated circuit, smart hardware, smart robot, virtual reality, and AI, supporting a total of 155 high-grade and advanced projects. So far, Zhongguancun invested 839 million yuan to support these industries.

Zhai said Zhongguancun will next focus on further optimizing business environment and improving its capacity in independent innovation, in order to promote the development of high-grade, precision, and advanced industries.

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