Harbin New District is the 16th national new district approved by the State Council. It plays an important role in promoting economic development of Heilongjiang province and the industrial revitalization of northeast China. (Photo by Zhang Jianxun)

By WANG Haiquan & LI Xiao

In recent years, Heilongjiang province has consistently strengthened international collaboration with other countries. To meet the needs of its industrial development, the province has actively conducted cooperative research and technological breakthroughs with international leading teams, delivering rewarding achievements.

This year, Heilongjiang has implemented a more open talent-related policy. Foreign experts from more than 90 countries are granted work permits to date. More and more foreign talents have settled in Heilongjiang and contributed to local development.

First-class innovation platform

Professor Nikolay Mukhurov, who comes from Belarus, has carried out joint research with the team of Harbin Institute of Technology and Harbin Engineering University for more than 10 years.

"The academic atmosphere here is very good, and the research conditions and research capacity are also world-class. There is no language barrier in communication, and our cooperative research is very fruitful," said Mukhurov.

Drawing on his experience, Chinese researchers solved the bottlenecks in the control of mass manufacturing of ceramic carrier microstructure, and improved the performance of domestic high-end high-temperature sensors and gas sensors. The two sides have achieved fruitful results in writing papers, publishing works, applying for invention patents and jointly training talented individuals.

At present, Heilongjiang has built 779 various types of science and technology innovation bases and platforms, and 79 national innovation platforms. Many foreign experts have praised the speed of improvement of Heilongjiang's sci-tech innovation capacity.

"Norman Bethune" in Daqing

Popova Liliya, an 82-year-old Kazakh, is the chief eye specialist of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital. She is widely known as "Norman Bethune" in Daqing by local people. She has been living in China for 24 years, and regards China as her second home.

"It is true that I am getting older, but I will continue to work as long as I can see, my heart still beats, and patients like to see me," said Liliya. In 2005, she was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award.

When talking about why she chose to settle in China, Liliya always answers with a smile. "The past 20 years I've spent in China are the most important and meaningful time in my life. I can use my clinical knowledge to cure people and spread my experience. Also, my days with kind, friendly, diligent and wise Chinese people allow me to have a more profound understanding of the beauty of life," she said.

Opportunity for innovation and entrepreneurship

As an old industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang has a very good foundation for international science and technology cooperation, and rich demonstration scenarios for technology application in traditional advantageous fields such as energy, new materials, modern agriculture and biomedicine.

Fadeev Andrey, aged 34, is an expert in the field of metal materials from the Russian Academy of Sciences. He has worked at Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences for a period of time almost every year since 2016.

"It is amazing to come to study and practice here. My knowledge can be fully applied, while the results of our joint research will be very helpful for my future research projects," said Andrey. Under the efforts of the joint innovation team, the first DC thermal plasma spheroidization powder-preparing equipment has been put into operation.

Inclusiveness, shared benefits and win-win outcomes are what Heilongjiang has been pursuing. It will accelerate the launch of new platforms for open collaboration, enhance the levels of international cooperation, and intensify its efforts to construct a cooperation hub of global significance in the north.

Source: Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology