Innovative capabilities are the lifeline and main theme of industrial development. Innovation consortiums are a practical approach to pool resources and overcome critical core technologies, enhancing innovation capabilities and accelerating the development of industrial innovation clusters.

On April 14th, Suzhou High-tech Zone held its second innovation consortium symposium, specifically the Suzhou Independent and Controllable Automotive Electronic Chip Innovation Consortium Symposium. This event was organized to promote the accelerated development of industrial innovation clusters.

The meeting was attended by Mao Wei, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Suzhou High-tech Zone, Hu Yidong, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute, Zhang Tingxiu, Deputy Director of Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Zheng Fang, Chairman of Suzhou NationalChip Technology Co., Ltd., Wu Xuxiang, district leaders, as well as representatives from relevant district departments, and corporate leaders.

Since 2022, Suzhou High-tech Zone has been actively exploring and implementing the construction of innovation consortiums, focusing on key industry clusters such as photonics, integrated circuits, medical devices, green technology, and more. They have actively involved leading companies to lead and integrate various aspects of the industry supply chain. In 2022, the district received approval for four municipal-level innovation consortiums, accounting for 31% of the total in the city.

The Suzhou Independent and Controllable Automotive Electronic Chip Innovation Consortium, led by NationalChip Technology, is an initiative that has been making significant progress since its establishment. The consortium is dedicated to tackling key technological challenges, building platforms, and achieving transformative outcomes. Several companies have already been incubated. NationalChip Technology, leveraging the consortium's member units, has initiated the establishment of the Yangtze River Delta Intelligent Automotive Electronic Chip Collaborative Innovation Center. The company plans to invest in the construction of an automotive electronic chip technology park, attract projects along the upstream and downstream of the industry chain, and nurture an ecosystem for industrial innovation.

During the meeting, three projects were signed, and one project was unveiled. NationalChip Technology, a key technology-driven company in the field of automotive electronic chips nurtured in the Suzhou High-tech Zone and listed on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board in 2021, has already achieved industrialization and a series of products. These products include body control chips, automotive powertrain control chips, automotive domain control chips, new energy battery management system (BMS) control chips, automotive-grade safety MCU chips, and automotive electronic mixed-signal chips. NationalChip Technology's cumulative shipments of high-end automotive electronic chips have already exceeded 4 million units, used by well-known domestic automakers like BYD, SAIC, Changan, Geely, and Dongfeng.

Suzhou's Independent and Controllable Automotive Electronic Chip Innovation Consortium, with NationalChip Technology as the lead unit, collaborates with downstream automakers such as Geely Group, SAIC, Nanjing Automobile Group, and Changzhou EControl in a "clustered" approach for technical breakthroughs and practical applications.

This consortium has been making remarkable progress in key technology development, platform establishment, and outcome transformation since its establishment. Currently, it has incubated multiple companies. NationalChip Technology, leveraging the member units of the consortium, has initiated the establishment of the Yangtze River Delta Intelligent Automotive Electronic Chip Collaborative Innovation Center and plans to invest in the construction of an automotive electronic chip technology park to attract projects along the industry chain, fostering an ecosystem for industrial innovation.

During the meeting, three projects were signed, and one project was unveiled.

During the symposium, Suzhou High-tech Integrated Circuit Industry Development Co., Ltd. provided an introduction to the innovation consortium and policy environment of the high-tech district's integrated circuit industry cluster. Member units of the Suzhou Independent and Controllable Automotive Electronic Chip Innovation Consortium also made presentations.

In the next steps, the high-tech district will thoroughly implement the deployment requirements of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government regarding the construction of innovation consortiums. They will further optimize and strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, fully support various carriers such as the Suzhou Automotive Electronic Chip Technology Research Institute to grow and excel. The district aims to accelerate the aggregation of innovation resources, facilitate leading companies to spearhead breakthroughs and collaborate in the development of more key core technologies, and jointly promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. All these efforts are aimed at contributing significantly to the establishment of a trillion-dollar automotive industry innovation cluster in Suzhou.