During a recent press conference held by the Henan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chen Xiangping, Secretary of the Pingdingshan Municipal Committee, highlighted the “double-edged sword” effect that resources have had on local development. “Pingdingshan is a resource-based city. While resources have contributed significantly to our growth, they have also led to challenges such as a reliance on a single industry and insufficient innovation capabilities,” he stated.

Pingdingshan, recognized as an important energy and heavy industrial base in central China, rose to prominence due to its coal resources. The city, famously known as the “Coal Storehouse of the Central Plains,” fueled its economic growth through coal mining and the development of industries like electricity, steel, and chemicals. However, as resources have begun to dwindle and environmental pollution issues have emerged, the city is now determined to move away from its dependence on coal and seek new pathways for transformation.

So, how is Pingdingshan adapting its transition, shifting from the “Coal Storehouse of the Central Plains” to becoming the “Capital of Materials” and “China’s Nylon City”?

“Innovation is the primary driving force behind development and is essential for the transformation of resource-based cities,” Chen remarked. He shared that Pingdingshan has been exploring how to lead industrial innovation through technological advancements by building platforms, strengthening key players, overcoming challenges, and promoting the application of findings. The city is also aligning with national strategic priorities and market demands to establish “China’s Nylon City” and “Baigui Lake Science and Innovation City,” utilizing these initiatives to elevate its industries to higher levels.

During a recent visit to Pingdingshan, reporters observed products emerging from the Henan Electronic Semiconductor Industrial Park and China Nylon City, including semi-insulating electronic-grade silicon carbide powder, conductive ingots, and nylon industrial and civilian threads. This transformation—from coal to silicon carbide and then to nylon—illustrates not only Pingdingshan’s shift from fuel to raw materials and finished products, but also reveals the local efforts to innovate and develop based on its coal heritage.

Founded in 2023, the “Baigui Lake Science and Innovation City” represents a new hub for industrial development and a source of technological innovation in Pingdingshan. The construction of this city is now taking shape, with Pingdingshan targeting emerging strategic and future industries to propel its industrial sectors into the mid-to-high-end market.

Chen also highlighted recent efforts to enhance innovation through the establishment of various research institutions, including laboratories and industrial research institutes. Three key initiatives have been launched to stimulate the growth of small and medium-sized technology firms, support the rapid growth of high-tech enterprises, and set benchmarks for innovative companies. Currently, the city has over 336 innovation platforms at the provincial level or above, ensuring comprehensive support for key industries.

In terms of advancing core technologies, Pingdingshan emphasizes market-driven, demand-oriented approaches. By fostering a collaborative innovation mechanism between leading companies and top universities, the city is empowering major enterprises to lead innovation consortiums focused on specific challenges, thus bridging the gap between government, industry, academia, and finance.

Official figures reveal that in 2023 alone, Pingdingshan coordinated over 140 major technological innovation initiatives within its manufacturing sector, resulting in breakthroughs and mass production in critical areas such as special performance steel, ultra-pure copper, and semiconductor silicon carbide. Through technological innovation, the city is seizing opportunities in key sectors like new materials, biomedicine, and energy storage, giving rise to numerous specialized and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. For example, Pingdingshan is home to the world’s largest production base for nylon 66 color masterbatch and has established a complete industrial chain for carbon-based nylon materials.

Looking to the future, Chen emphasized that Pingdingshan will place innovation at the forefront of its development strategy, integrating it as a core aspect of modernization. The city plans to advance both “cities” simultaneously, focusing on connecting industrial development, innovation platforms, high-end talent collaboration, the conversion of scientific achievements, and the provision of essential services to foster mutual growth. Moreover, by combining the government’s guiding influence with market forces, Pingdingshan aims to reform its systems, including initiatives like “ranking and commissioning” and “horse racing,” ensuring that research outcomes rapidly transition to production and seamlessly integrate into the industrial chain, ultimately enhancing real productivity and generating new forms of economic output.