The Qingdao Municipal Government plans to help large and medium-sized or high-tech enterprises establish research and development centers over the next few years, according to a spokesman for the Science and Technology Bureau of Qingdao.

The number of research and development centers in Qingdao City will reach a total of 700 and the investment in that same sector will total at 20 billion yuan (US$ 3.16 billion) in 2015, the spokesman said.

The Qingdao Municipal Government will allocate special funding for those qualified or potentially-qualified enterprises to establish research and development centers. The government will also give priority to projects that are jointly launched by universities or academic institutions and enterprises on industrial innovation. Academics and experts from universities are encouraged to work in the research and development for enterprises.