Park clusters bolster critical new industries

Leveraging the advantages of its biopharmaceutical and aviation industries, Taicang has dedicated industrial parks to bolster growth of these emerging sectors.

Taicang Biomedical Industrial Park, a shining example of the city's industrial park development map, is strategically designed to have three distinct areas — the biopharmaceutical core zone, biotech port and the Sino-German (Taicang) life and healthcare industrial park — to serve as catalysts for developing a robust biopharmaceutical industry cluster.

The interconnected areas are supported by an advanced and comprehensive medical service outsourcing platform aimed at fostering the integration of innovative biopharmaceutical medication and cutting-edge medical devices.

To drive sustainable growth, the biomedical park is focused on attracting leading enterprises to elevate the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises while cultivating a robust ecosystem for the industry. This approach has injected greater innovation and influence into the development of Taicang's biopharmaceutical industry. Official statistics show more than 400 companies have gathered in the core zone of the park, including Joinn Laboratories, Cyagen, Salubris and Omni.

"The success of the park hinges primarily on its ability to leverage its own advantages," said Li Baijun, general manager of Taicang Biomedical Industrial Park. "The park's excellent location in Taicang, just 60 kilometers from Suzhou BioBay and 65 km from Shanghai Zhangjiang Pharma Valley, gives it a unique advantage for industrial transformation."

Taicang's aviation industry has likewise seen ongoing expansion of its reach while playing a vital role in driving the city's economic and social development. In recent years, Taicang has focused on key areas like aviation components, essential materials, and aerospace electronic systems, leveraging its proximity to Shanghai and the research and development strength of Northwestern Polytechnical University in "the three aeronautics" fields.

Taicang has constructed three functional areas of the Suzhou (Taicang) aviation industry park for large aircraft, the Loujiang New City aviation manufacturing park and the Taicang Lingang aviation and aerospace industry park, covering an area of 182.67 hectares.

Since 2018, Taicang has issued a series of policies and action plans aimed at strengthening its aviation industry. To this end, the number of companies in the industry has increased from 30 to more than 160, focusing on critical areas like aviation components, aerospace materials, onboard systems, equipment support, low-altitude economy, and commercial spaceflight.

Jiangsu Huaray Technology, founded in 2020, is ensconced in Taicang's aviation industry park. The company focuses on developing and commercializing next-generation titanium aluminide alloy aviation engine turbine blades and components. Its blade samples have met Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's design requirements, becoming a long-term supplier. In the first half of 2024, the company secured an order for five sets of turbine blades valued at around 20 million yuan ($2.76 million).

Taicang has strategically emphasized the aviation industry's development as one of the key emerging industries targeted for expansion during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). The city aims to achieve an industrial output value of over 50 billion yuan by 2025, via a development pathway that combines aviation, low-altitude and dual-wheel drive and the integration of industry and innovation.