Shenzhen plans its own "Silicon Valley"

Source: Shenzhen Daily | 08-07-2007 17:47

BEIJING, Aug. 7 -- Authorities in Shenzhen are mulling the creation of a "Silicon Valley" in the city, at the Xili and Taoyuan communities in Nanshan District, yesterday's Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

With a total area of about 82 square kilometers, the technology hub, modeled on Silicon Valley in the United States and Zhongguancun in Beijing, would take the lead in building Shenzhen into an innovative city by enabling the conduction of research and the incubation of high-tech companies, the Daily report said. Schools campuses, high-tech companies, research institutes and housing estates would co-exist side by side in the technology park.

Officials with the municipal technology information bureau said they hoped to turn the Xili and Taoyuan communities into an upmarket area which is comfortable enough for talented people to live in.

The idea of creating Shenzhen's "Silicon Valley" was first put forward by Sun Yong, a member of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference earlier this year. Sun said Xili, a water source area where the development of regular industries is restricted, is home to Shenzhen Polytechnic and Shenzhen University Town. A research institute affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Science would also be built in the area in the future, making it a favorable place for a technology park, Sun said.

Officials with the technology information bureau said the preliminary plan for creating Shenzhen's "Silicon Valley" had been finished and was awaiting official approval.

Shenzhen's "Silicon Valley" would have North Ring Road in the south, Antuo Hill in the east and Longhua of Bao'an District in the northwest. The 82-square-kilometer technology park would be relatively small compared to Silicon Valley in the United States, 700 square kilometers, and Zhongguancun, 240 square kilometers.

Editor:Du Xiaodan