Shinan district in Qingdao is working to enhance its innovation capacity. [Photo/Qingdao Daily]

Shinan district in Qingdao, Shandong province, was recently placed on the China's top 100 districts list for their innovation capacity in 2022 with a ranking of 74th.

The list was released on April 6 by CCID Consulting, a firm affiliated with a think tank under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The ranking was based on four aspects of a district's innovation ecology, innovation motivation, innovation entities, and innovation results. 

It was a result of a comprehensive evaluation on innovation levels in key areas such as regional gross domestic product, research and development investment and the number of national-level high-tech enterprises in 906 prefecture-level municipal districts throughout the country.

Shinan district is working to promote the "Four New" economy development, which involves new technology, new industry, new business pattern, and new development mode.

This year, it aims to have more than 100 newly registered "Four New" economy enterprises, and each is expected to generate 20 million yuan ($3.14 million) or more in annual revenue. The number of small and medium-sized sci-tech companies is expected to total 500.

The local government also set a goal for enterprises in the district to get 300 new valid invention patents approved within the year and recruit 2,800 high-caliber workers, including those with master's and doctoral degrees, and senior professional certificates.