NIE Yunling, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Congress

Harbin, August 23, 2024

Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a great honor to be invited to attend the 7th International Conference on Innovation and Cooperation in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and to deliver a speech. On behalf of the Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Congress, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the leaders and experts present, and express my heartfelt gratitude to friends from home and abroad who have long been concerned with and supportive of the development of Heilongjiang Province!

Heilongjiang Province places great emphasis on education, science and technology, and talent development. It vigorously promotes the connotation construction of higher education and continuously highlights the leading role of higher education. Efforts are made to exert the influence of scientific and technological innovation as an incrementer, effectively transforming the advantages of science and education into development advantages. Comprehensive measures are taken to cultivate, introduce, and utilize various talents, providing strong talent support for the comprehensive revitalization of Heilongjiang Province. In 2023, the province’s scientific and technological innovation vitality continues to be unleashed, and the advantages of science and education resources are rapidly transformed. Heilongjiang Province places great emphasis on innovation, promotes the revitalization of science and education, and accelerates the high-level creation and efficient local transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

First, the capacity for scientific and technological innovation continues to improve. The Innovation and Development Conference of Heilongjiang Province was held, and the Guiding Opinions on Building Innovative Heilongjiang Province as well as the 60 Policies for the Innovative Development of Heilongjiang Province were published. The provincial input of special funds for science and technology has increased by 20% year-on-year. Support was provided for 32 projects of “Open Bidding for Selecting the Best Candidates”. The implementation of the 60 Policies for the Revitalization of Talents in the New Era of Heilongjiang Province was deepened; 2 academicians were newly elected; There’s a shift from net outflow to net inflow of high-level talents with senior professional titles in colleges and universities, and the number of graduates staying in Heilongjiang Province for employment reaching the best level in the past five years.

Second, the pace of innovation platform construction has accelerated. Advanced Technology Research Institute of Harbin Institute of Technology was constructed. The number of national key laboratories has increased from 7 to 12, 5 national technology centers have been approved, and 3 national high-tech business incubators have been added. The construction of the Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar National Innovation Demonstration Zone and the Jiamusi National High-tech Industrial Demonstration Zone for Agriculture is steadily advancing. The Harbin Science and Technology Market has been put into operation, with 218 tradable scientific and technological achievements solicited.

Third, the transformation of scientific and technological achievements has produced remarkable results. The implementation of the industrialization action plan for scientific and technological achievements and special actions for the industrialization of achievements from universities, research institutes, and enterprises has been deeply carried out. A total of 202 “Wisdom Gathering in Heilongjiang” result roadshows were held, leading to the transformation of 589 significant scientific and technological achievements. A new round of three-year action plans for technology-based enterprises have been deeply implemented, with a net increase of 825 high-tech enterprises and a growth of 22.9%, bringing the total number to 4,430.

Fourth, breakthroughs have been made in core technologies of key fields. The Space Environment Ground Simulation Device of Harbin Institute of Technology has been tested and operated, and together we have built the first 3-meter Class Rocket Bottom Case Mass Production Line of China. The “Longjiang-3” Experimental Satellite was successfully launched. Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd. successfully applied the world’s first Megawatt-Class High-Temperature Superconducting Induction Heating Device. The High-Speed Train Rescue Crane, independently researched and developed by CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co., Ltd., has filled the domestic field gap. New progress has been made in the research and development of nuclear power equipment technology by China First Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and Harbin Electric Corporation.

Distinguished leaders and experts, the social and economic development of Heilongjiang Province is inseparable from the concerted efforts and joint progress of all sectors. Harbin Engineering University, as an important base for fostering talents in the national shipbuilding, ocean engineering, and nuclear science and technology, has always been keeping in mind the noble mission of “cultivating talents for the State”. It has trained a large number of outstanding talents for China and made remarkable contributions to the local economic and social development. In 2023, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of HEU, President XI Jinping inspected the university and gave important instructions on carrying forward the fine traditions of the university, and perform well in education, science and technology, and human resources. Harbin Engineering University keeps in mind the entrustment of President XI Jinping, and make new and greater contributions to building a strong educational system, greater scientific and technological strength, and a quality workforce.

Harbin Engineering University established the Heilongjiang Institute of Engineers and took the lead in establishing the International Education Cooperation Association of Heilongjiang Province, continuously cultivating, retaining, and gathering talents for the revitalization of Heilongjiang Province. The university is accelerating the construction of an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and cooperation with local enterprises is promoting high-quality development of Heilongjiang Province. Focusing on the field of deep-sea industries, the university signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Pingfang District to build a “Deep-Sea Industrial Park Demonstration Zone”, achieving “spatial interconnection, resource sharing, and integrated development”. A comprehensive cooperation agreement was signed with Shangzhi City to promote the green, efficient, and sustainable development of local agriculture. The university actively serves the construction of new quality productive forces of Heilongjiang Province. Transparent ice technology helps Heilongjiang Province to successfully host the Asian Winter Games. As the leading institute, the university developed the province’s first all-electric intelligent passenger ship “Linghangzhixing” and manufactured China’s first digital twin intelligent test ship “Dolphin 1”, providing strong support for the green and intelligent transformation and high-quality development of Heilongjiang’s shipbuilding industry.

Today, we are gathered here, taking this conference as a platform to bring together the engineering and technological forces in the field of shipbuilding and ocean engineering, to share scientific and technological achievements, to jointly explore frontier challenges, and to discuss key issues in development. We believe that with the promotion of ICNAME, academic exchanges in the field of global shipbuilding and ocean engineering will become even closer, scientific results will be more abundant, and the quality of talent cultivation will be greatly enhanced.

Finally, I would like to extend my best wishes for the complete success of this conference! I wish all the leaders and experts a pleasant stay and good health during your visit in Harbin.

Thank you!