On 25 August, Hohhot convened a conference on deepening the integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, officially releasing its Measures for Advancing Deep Integration of Technological Innovation and Industrial Innovation together with an overarching implementation plan. The 20 measures are designed to place economic and social development firmly on an innovation-driven path and accelerate Hohhot's emergence as an important growth pole for high-quality development in northern China.
The conference highlighted a key message: "The less developed a region is, the more it needs to pursue an innovation-driven development strategy." This sentiment reflects the resolve of the provincial capital to leverage its strengths. Hohhot is home to the National Dairy Technology Innovation Centre, which has shortened dairy-cattle breeding evaluation from four years to just 45 days and cultivated China's first probiotic strain for infants and young children derived from Chinese breast milk. This supports the "Dairy Capital of China" in its quest to become a global dairy hub. Additionally, a major scientific facility for aerospace, sky-to-ground, cross-scale metrology, benchmarked against international leaders, is rising in Horinger New District. Inner Mongolia University of Technology has launched the region's first new-energy industrial large model, and a domestic enterprise—the only one capable of producing 4N5 high-purity germanium products consistently—is helping quantum technology and calcium-titanium mineral photovoltaics overcome raw-material bottlenecks.
The city's commitment is tangible. Municipal fiscal investment in science and technology will double in 2026 and again in 2027. Newly recognized national-level innovation platforms will receive a one-off research grant of RMB 3 million, while each "Qingcheng Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent" may receive up to RMB 500,000 in research support. By 2030, Hohhot aims to attract an additional 10 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as 50 high-level innovation teams. Through a policy approach of "enjoy benefits without application and receive them directly and swiftly," the city will provide inclusive computing-power vouchers, model vouchers, and token vouchers to technology-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises, lowering barriers to innovation.
Openness is a defining feature of Hohhot. Drawing on the Hohhot Area of the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the city is building an international science and technology cooperation base with countries along the Belt and Road. It is also deepening coordination with Beijing's Haidian District through a "two-hour innovation circle," exploring a pathway where research and development take place elsewhere while results are transformed and applied in Hohhot. The city understands that innovation cannot thrive in isolation.
Like the Mongolian horse, Hohhot is resilient, diligent, and determined. This character combines the breadth and inclusiveness of the grasslands with the courage to open northwards and explore new frontiers. From the "Dairy Capital of China" to China's "Cloud Valley," from the pastures of Chilechuan to the computing-power clusters of Horinger, this green city is transforming into a city of innovation. Hohhot extends an invitation to the world, offering supportive policies, real-world application scenarios, and a genuine commitment to partnership—together with a vast landscape for those who strive and build for the future.
