Two cutting-edge products from the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ) have been named among Wuhan's Top 10 Technological Innovation Products for 2024: the electrostatic chuck and the 7nm advanced intelligent driving chip "Star One".
The electrostatic chuck is a vital component in chip manufacturing, ensuring the safety and stability of the chip industry chain. Developed by Hubei Xintao Technology Co, this innovation has broken foreign monopolies and achieved self-reliance in this essential technology.
The "Star One" advanced intelligent driving chip, developed by SiEngine Technology, is a core component of intelligent driving systems. Verified in October 2024, the 7nm chip is scheduled for mass production in 2025 and widespread vehicle application by 2026.
The chip delivers 512 TOPS of AI computing power and meets the ASIL-D functional safety level. It supports L2-L4 level autonomous driving across all scenarios, filling a significant gap in domestic high-computing-power autonomous driving chips.
WEDZ's success can be attributed to a series of strategic measures implemented by authorities. These include fostering collaborative innovation between enterprises and universities, encouraging independent innovation by large-scale enterprises, and promoting integrated innovation among small, medium, and large enterprises.
By 2024, the number of high-tech enterprises in WEDZ had surged past 2,000, a fivefold increase over four years. The zone has nurtured 121 provincial-level "new species" tech enterprises, with "Moose" enterprises accounting for half of the city's total and "Unicorn" enterprises comprising one-third. High-tech industries contributed nearly 50 percent of the GDP, with enterprise R&D expenditure growth approaching 50 percent.
In 2025, WEDZ aims to enhance technological innovation's role in driving industrial transformation. Plans include accelerating the construction of the Industrial Innovation Corridor, establishing eight specialized industrial parks, and fostering innovative industrial clusters.
