18 Jun 2009 – Vimicro Eletronics R&D Center Breaks Earth

(Source: en.investteda.org) On June 10th, TEDA Service Outsourcing Park witnessed the grand earth-breaking ceremony for the Starlight China Chip Project R&D Center of Vimicro Electronics Corporation.

Set up on December 29th, 2008 and jointly funded by TEDA State-owned Assets Operation Company and Vimicro International Corporation, Vimicro Electronics is a recognized leader in surveillance and digital security industry of the TBNA and a premier supplier of core technologies in security and surveillance market. Its main shareholder, Vimicro, is China's first NASDAQ-listed chip designer with independent IPR. Supported by the existing competitiveness of Vimicro, the new company has chosen the path of independent innovation from its founding day and devoted itself to the research, development, and commercialized application of the core technologies in security surveillance.

Focusing on the R&D and design of digital video surveillance chips, the R&D Center for Vimicro Electronics' Starlight China Chip Project will be active in the R&D and application design of high-end surveillance software and systems as well as the R&D, design and assembly of key equipments so as to foster an industry chain for surveillance and digital security. So far, the company has successfully developed a high-capacity telecom-class broadband video surveillance system with independent IPR. As a reliable supplier in China's information and national security market, it will serve as a technology powerhouse for the country's surveillance and digital security bases and the entire industry, improve the competitiveness of the core technologies of our information industry, promote the development of related industries, and speed up industrial upgrading.

27 Apr 2009 – Novozymes (China) Biopharma Co., Ltd. Breaks Ground in TEDA

(Source: en.investteda.org) On April 27, Novozymes (China) Biopharma Co., Ltd. held a ground-breaking ceremony in TEDA. Novozymes is a world leading company in enzyme preparations and microbe. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Danmark and branches in 30 countries around the world, Novozymes has its products available in over 130 countries. Novozymes (China) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., an enzyme production facility of Novozymes, has been operating for over ten years in TEDA and performed quite well.

Novozymes has made another investment to set up Novozymes (China) Biopharma Co., Ltd. in TEDA. The new company will specialize in the production of bHA (bacillus-based hyaluronic acid) through the fermentation of bacilli. Such product is applied to medical devices and medicines, such as eye care products, etc. In the future the company will construct a series of workshops for API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and other pharmcautical ingredients. With an investment of 200 million to 300 million Danish krone (nearly 35 million to 50 million dollars), the new facility is expected to be put to use in the first quarter of 2011. The new facility will produce HA which meets the Q7 medical standard set by drug administrations of most countries around the world.

22 Apr 2009 – YAKULT Settles Down in TEDA

(Source: en.investteda.org) At the invitation of Yakult Honsha, a TEDA delegation headed by Vice Chairman Ai Yamin visited the company's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan in early April. The delegation comprises officials from the Investment Promotion Bureau, Economic Development Bureau, Trade Development Bureau, Construction Development Bureau, Public Utility Bureau, and Foreign Affairs Bureau of TEDA. Entrusted by TEDA Administrative Commission, Vice Chairman Ai signed a land transfer contract with Yakult.

Started up in 1935, Yakult boasts over 70 years of experience in the production and marketing of fermented diary products. It now ranks among the world’s largest producers and sellers of fermented active lactic acid bacteria and operates 18 plants in 28 countries and regions for the production and marketing of Yakult-branded active lactic acid beverages.

With 63 million dollars of investment from Yakult (China) Investment Co., Ltd., the Tianjin facility of Yakult has a registered capital of 21 million dollars and occupies a 40,000-square-meter premise. Construction will start at the end of this year and be finished in two years. Once operational, it will see a sales revenue of 400 million yuan annually and its products will be 100% supplied to the Chinese domestic market.

18 Mar 2009 – TEDA and Tianjin Bonna-Agela Technologies Ltd. Inked a Cooperation Agreement

(Source: en.investteda.org) On March 18, a ceremony for signing a cooperation agreement on investment increase and production expansion of chromatography packing materials project between TEDA and Tianjin Bonna-Agela Technologies Ltd. was held in the Investment Service Center of TEDA. Mr. Ni Xiangyu, Vice Chairman of TEDA Administrative Commission, and Ms. Liang Ping, Chairwoman of Tianjin Bonna-Agela Technologies Ltd. signed the agreement.

A high-tech company engaged in R&D, production and sale, Tianjin Bonna-Agela Technolgies Ltd. now mainly produces new materials and related products used in analysis, separation and testing. Its products are widely used in biological, medical, food safety testing, environment monitoring, etc. The company added 85 million yuan of investment and purchased 16,000 sqm of land to expand production and build up a modern separation technology engineering center. Within five years after the completion of the project, the company will operate globally, become one of the world's top ten companies in this sector and attain accumulative profits of nearly 150 million yuan. Moreover, its annual industrial output value will reach no less than 300 million yuan five years later.

28 Feb 2009 – BICDS Takes Local Brands to IIC-China 2009

(Source: original) BICDS reports today that it has taken three Tianjin IC companies to The 14th Annual International IC-China Conference & Exhibition (i.e. IIC-China 2009) taking place in Shenzhen, 26-27 February. IIC-China is considered as China’s largest annual showcase of IC application technologies and high-end components. Each year thousands of visitors gather at the show in major cities of electronic and IT businesses to learn about the latest electronics system design solutions from international vendors. Sponsored by Global Sources, the show offers enormous business opportunities for the participants, which BICDS considers as a great chance to promote itself as well as IC companies in TEDA or Tianjin. It is learned that two of the three companies: Unitend Technologies Inc. and TeleGene Video Tech Co., Ltd. are from TEDA, whereas the third one: Tianjin Huanxin Technology & Development Co., Ltd. comes from downtown Tianjin.

6 Feb 2009 – 11 Key Projects to Be Finished in 2009

(Source: en.investteda.org) This year 11 key projects such as the Service Outsourcing Park and the Joint Academy of Bio-medicine are to be finished to further improve local public services and facilitate the development and opening-up of the TBNA as a whole.

These 11 projects are: the Joint Academy of Bio-medicine, the Service Outsourcing Park, Phase-I of the Science Development Center, the Fifth Avenue White-collar Apartment, public rental apartment project, TEDA West Blue-collar Apartment, TEDA West Sports Stadium, standard workshops, No.2 Primary School, No.5 Kindergarten, and No.4 Firehouse.

Also, maintenance and renovation of the old TEDA Hospital, the TEDA East Fire Brigade, and Dongting Road Police Station will also be finished this year. In addition, construction work will be initiated for the Phase-II of the Science Development Center, Garbage Compressing and Transport Station, the TEDA West Hospital (a first-level one), the TEDA West Armed Force Barracks, the TEDA West Central-South Stadium, the TEDA West No.2 Fire Brigade, and the TEDA West Police Station. The construction of Binhai University Station, Zhongxinzhuang Station, and Zhangguizhuang Station of the Tianjin-Binhai Light Rail will also be accelerated to further improve local transportation.

To ensure more development space for the future, TEDA will work closely with neighboring regions in the new year. It plans to jointly launch the Nangang Industrial Zone with Dagang District to accommodate more competitive industries such as petro-chemistry, modern metallurgy, and heavy equipment manufacturing so as to create a more high-end, high-quality and hi-tech industrial structure. Currently, TEDA has already signed agreement with Dagang District and the Tianjin Port Group to set up the Nangang Industrial Zone Development Company to oversee the ongoing construction. It will also properly arrange the construction of the Binhai Tourism Zone and get actively involved in the development of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city.

2 Feb 2009 – Detailed Subsidizing Measures Coming Out for Teetering Enterprises

(Source: en.investteda.org) According to the TEDA Administrative Commission (TAC), a detailed implementing regulation entitled 15 Measures to Ensure Growth, Survive Difficulties and Build Competitiveness has been released to help enterprises with their operational difficulties. In response to their practical needs, the TAC set up a special team to review the earmarked fiscal grants and offers subsidies in five aspects such as loan interest subsidy.

The Measures will be valid until December 31st, 2009 and applies to small productive enterprises and small and medium-sized technology enterprises that are registered in TEDA, virtually contributive to the disposable income of TEDA, and with recognized operational difficulties by the TAC. According to the Measures, TEDA will offer subsidies to qualified enterprises in the following five aspects:

I. Loan Interest Subsidy

Qualified enterprises can be granted 50% subsidies for the interest of loans related to their operation occurring in 2008 or 2009. The subsidy term is one year. The maximum total subsidy for each recipient enterprise is 500,000 yuan.

II. Subsidy for the Special Audit Fee of Hi-tech Enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises who are at start-up phase and apply to be recognized as Tianjin municipal-level hi-tech enterprises yet are financially incapable of paying special audit fee may be granted a maximum of 5,000 yuan as subsidy each.

III. Subsidy for the Patent Purchase of Hi-tech Enterprise Applicants

Small and medium-sized enterprises who are at start-up phase yet without self-developed patents, if need to purchase patent rights or exclusive global licenses for patented technologies to apply for the recognition as Tianjin municipal-level enterprises, can be granted a maximum 20% subsidy for related fees if they do have financial difficulties. The maximum subsidy to each enterprise recipient shall not exceed 100,000 yuan.

IV. Corporate Income Subsidy

Qualified enterprises can be granted 80% of the TEDA-retained part of their paid corporate income tax of 2008. The maximum subsidy to each enterprise recipient is one million yuan.

V. The TAC can also adopt other supportive measures which it considers as rational and feasible according to the specific demand of individual enterprises.

Responsible government staff express that enterprise recipients should have detailed spending plan for the subsidies from the TAC and promise their employee headcount in 2009 shall not be lower than the previous year. To apply for related subsidies, they can go the reception desk of TEDA Policy Delivery Office, namely, Window No.36 of Administrative License Service Center at the B Area of TEDA Investment Service Center.

8 Jan 2009 – TEDA Bonded Logistics Center Approved

(Source: en.investteda.org) Recently, TEDA Bonded Logistics Center was approved by the General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Taxation, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

By concept, a bonded logistics center refers to a customs surveillance place as approved by the General Administration of Customs that is specially undertaken by one legal person and operated by several enterprises within the territory of China to undertake business operations of bonded warehousing logistics. It is allowed to store bonded import and export goods, goods that haven't gone through the customs clearance, and engage in simple distribution processing and value-added service, global procurement, international distribution, entrepot trade, and international relay.

The Bonded logistics center of TEDA is a new logistics entity apart from the special customs surveillance places such as the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone (TPFTZ), Export Processing Zone (EPZ), bonded logistics park, bonded port, comprehensive bonded area, and bonded customs surveillance forms such as bonded warehouse and export surveillance warehouse. It will serve as an integral and dynamic part of Tianjin's comprehensive bonded logistics system. So far, Tianjin is recognized as the most trade-friendly region with the most diversified customs surveillance and most functions in China.

6 Jan 2009 – Vimicro Establishes Joint Venture with TEDA and Expands Surveillance Business

(Source: Vimicro) Vimicro International Corporation (Nasdaq VIMC), a leading fabless semiconductor company that designs advanced mixed-signal multimedia products and solutions, today announced the establishment of Vimicro Electronics Corporation (VEC), a joint venture that includes Vimicro, TEDA and a venture capital fund formed by certain members of Vimicro's management (the Management Fund) in Tianjin, China. The new joint venture focuses on the design and sale of digital video surveillance products and further extends Vimicro's penetration of the fast-growing surveillance market.

Both Vimicro and TEDA each contributed RMB250 million in cash (approximately US$36.8 million) to the joint venture as initial registered capital and each hold close to a 50 percent equity interest in the new entity. The Management Fund holds a nominal equity interest in the joint venture.

31 Dec 2008 – The Top 20 TBNA News Stories of 2008 announced

Northern Economic Times, a major newspaper in TBNA, selects the top 20 local news items of the year 2008 which include the following 10:

• The official reply to the Overall Plan of Comprehensive Coordinated Pilot Reform of TBNA by the State Council
• One-day torch relay in TBNA
• TBNA witnesses the start of direct sea links with Taiwan
• TBNA hosts Summer Davos
• Construction of Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city starts
• Airbus A320 assembly line goes into operation
• TEDA continues to stand on the top of the list among all 53 state-level development zones for the 11th consecutive year in terms of comprehensive investment climate
• Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Line extends to TBNA
• Construction of CBD of TBNA speeds up
• Binhai International Equity Exchange and Tianjin Equity Exchange run on trial basis

26 Dec 2008 – TEDA introduces new policy to boost high-tech sector

TEDA will further encourage and support scientific research, technological development and transformation of local businesses and institutes with more emphasis on financial support to tech-based enterprises, as stipulated in the newly revised Provisions of TEDA on Promoting the High and New Technology Sector.

In addition to adjustments to existing articles, the new policy has included 12 more articles to embody TEDA's greater support for business activities such as independent innovation, R&D transformation, financing channel exploring and IPR application. Some of the new articles are as follows:

• For certified new and high-tech enterprises enjoying the favorable corporate income tax rate of 15%, the tax will be returned to them in full for the first two years after certification and returned in 50% for the next three years.
• TEDA will provide special assistance to key industries such as software, IC design, and bio-pharmaceuticals in the form of special fund or tax reduction.
• An Incubation Fund of RMB 10 million will be set up by TEDA to support high-tech start-up businesses and priority will be given to those enterprises set up by returned Chinese students.

24 Dec 2008 – Innovation platform on food & biology launched in TEDA

Tianjin Innovation Center for Food & Biology comes into existence today in TEDA under the partnership between TII and Tianjin Engineering Center for Food Processing (a research-oriented business in food and biotech which is affiliated to and located on the TEDA Campus of Tianjin University of Science & Technology), with the aim to integrate professional resources of both sides and attract research companies in food and biology so as to promote in-depth industry-university-research cooperation from innovative sourcing to lab tests to commercialization and boost the brand awareness of the local food industry in the country.

20 Nov 2008 – TII awarded "Tianjin's Top Ten Organizations for Returned Chinese Scholars"

In the list of "Top Organizations for Returned Chinese Scholars in Tianjin" recently announced by Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Personnel, the TII was among the ten honored winners due to its achievements in nurturing high-tech start-up companies established by returned Chinese students. Among all the titles that the TII bears, TII Science Park for Overseas Chinese Scholars is one of them. Up till now, more than 40 returned scholars have started their business in this science park. With tailored incubation services in TII and massive policy support in TEDA, many of these companies have grown up to successful enterprises with high growth-rates in respective sectors. Two organizations from TEDA won this year's award, with the other one being Tianjin Nanda-Qiangxin IC Design Co., Ltd.

29 Sept 2008 – TBNA hosts Summer Davos

As the world holds its breath to see if the Wall Street's massive multi-billion dollar bailout can help the US finance industry, business leaders and economists certainly hope emerging economies like China could maintain their pep in the ever-growing credit crisis to at least lend some measure of stability, as was the talk at the weekend's Summer Davos Forum held in Tianjin Binhai New Area. Organized by the World Economic Forum, the two day event, named Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2008, looked at the issues of common concerns from globalization of science & technology to modeled scenarios for the future global economy. It's the second time China has hosted the Summer Davos. The first event was held last year in Dalian in Northeast China.

As part of the pre-conference workshops, three days before the official meeting, the YGL community of the WEF paid a visit to TII in Tianda Science Park where young business leaders were meeting local entrepreneurs to have an exchange of opinions and ideas.

23 Sept 2008 – Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Line extends to Tanggu

From tomorrow, 4 pairs of trains running from Beijing to Tianjin will extend to Tanggu, greatly reducing the journey between the two places from two hours previously to just one hour, which is good news for the upcoming Summer Davos to be held in Tianjin Binhai New Area on September 27 and 28, as visitors from Beijing now enjoy more convenient transportation services to TBNA and TEDA and it is believed that passenger volume will be significantly boosting in accordance.

Since September 14, 10 more pairs of trains have been added into service, reducing the minimum interval from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. From September 28, another 2 pairs will be added between Beijing and Tianjin, making a total of 62 pairs of train in service, 60 of which for passengers.

29 Aug 2008 – Tianda Science Park re-sets the rent for occupiers

From 15 September, TSP will finely raise its rent levels for its new occupiers (and existing occupiers who want to renew the contract), with rent for the office buildings (i.e. Blocks A, F & Software Building) going up to RMB 45 per month per sqm (NB: interior construction area) and rent for the factory buildings (i.e. Blocks B, C & D) rising to RMB 30 per month per sqm (NB: construction area), as described in an official notice released today by TII.

It is also learned that for those fast-developing high-tech enterprises who wish to renew the contract with TSP after three years' incubation, the rent will be slightly higher than the new rent standards.

1 Aug 2008 – China's fastest bullet train to take a race with wind

Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Line, the first 300km/h level high-speed rail in China, opened today, a week before Beijing Olympics. With a maximum speed of 350km/h, the CRH high speed EMU trains will shorten the traveling time between the Olympic City and the neighboring co-host city Tianjin from 70 minutes to 30 minutes. From today, 47 daily pairs of train services will run between Beijing South and Tianjin, of which, six pairs run between Beijing South and Tanggu on the seaside (currently not available). Three classes of tickets have been introduced with fares higher than the former Beijing-Tianjin ticket fares: RMB99 for the deluxe seat, RMB69 for a first class seat, and RMB58 for the second class seats.

1 Aug 2008 – TII English website ready for public access

With concerted efforts, the TII English website is now accessible via www.innovateda.org/english or by clicking on the "ENGLISH" button on the top right corner of the TII homepage. The English version of the TII website is a major step forward in TII's "Go International" strategy. It acts as a mouthpiece of TII, informing foreign companies/investors or our overseas counterparts about who we are, how we work, and where we will be. If you are interested in the current information on our site, stay tuned as we will bring you more updates on a regular basis.

18 Jul 2008 – New version of TII website opens to the public

After two weeks of internal testing, today marks the official introduction of the new TII website to public visitors. While retaining the same address www.innovateda.org, the new site is now taking on a completely new look with refreshed design, enriched content and new subject headings to provide all-round information to relevant users. In addition, an online forum, accessible from the home page, has been launched together with the main site. The new site aims to build itself into an ideal online platform for communications and interactions, striving to promote better understanding of TII and high-tech business climate in TEDA among concerned parties.

8 May 2008 – TII to boost entrepreneurial tutoring

At the 11th Annual Conference of China's International Business Incubators held today in the Business School of Nankai University, TII and other local incubators cosign their name on a cooperative agreement to launch the Entrepreneurial Tutor Campaign in order to deliver professional and customized incubation services to the SMEs in Tianjin Binhai New Area. From now on, tech-based start-ups and entrepreneurs will be able to enjoy tailored tutoring from successful entrepreneurs in addition to professional services from the incubators. Accordingly, TII will soon announce its revised plan on entrepreneurial tutoring so as to enable more tutors (e.g. famous entrepreneurs in high-tech businesses or scholars/specialists in finance, VC or management) to come and deliver diagnostic, consulting or training services to the occupiers.

21 Apr 2008 – Image promotion campaign gets underway

In order to promote the public image of Tianda Science Park, TII has decided this month to launch a series of comprehensive image improving activities including park logo designing, main entrance repairs, wall plastering, and road repairs. What's more, bids for the new acrylic characters of the TII logo on top of Blocks A1 & A2 will be invited from specialized firms by the end of May.

28 Mar 2008 – Property management agent confirmed for Tianda Science Park

Thriving Future Property, a property management company affiliated to Tianjin TEDA Construction Group Co., Ltd. (a state-owned real estate corporation), signs the contract with TII today to become the authorized management agent for properties within Tianda Science Park.

25 Mar 2008 –BICDS welcomes visitors from Beijing

Delegates from Vimicro Corporation of Beijing have paid a visit to BICDS today, making them the first visitors since the center's official launch earlier this year. The visiting group is led by Mr. Deng Zhonghan, Board Chairman of Vimicro Corp., and their tour is accompanied by Chairman and Vice Chairman of TBNA Administrative Commission, Director of Science and Technology Development Bureau of TEDA Administrative Commission, and the Director of TII.

28 Feb 2008 – Preparations for new technology transfer center under way

A University Technology Transfer Center (UTTC) will come into being soon in TII as a result of the cooperation between TEDA government and Tianjin Municipal Education Commission. A preparatory group has been formed today to facilitate the future launch of UTTC in TII, and Mr. Hongliang Li, vice-director of TII, has been appointed as the deputy leader to facilitate first-phase preparations by utilizing TII's existing resources to the full potential.

3 Feb 2008 – Construction of new buildings to begin later this month

The bidding for the construction project of Haiyun Workshops has come to an end and China Construction 7th Engineering Bureau has won the bid at the price of RMB 51.06 million. According to the agreements, construction of the new workshops will begin on February 16, and the project will be completed by 31 Dec 2008.

24 Jan 2008 –TII holds BICDS opening ceremony

Tianjin Binhai IC Design Service Center (BICDS), a 1,450sqm public service platform offering hardware and software solutions for IC design businesses, is officially launched in TII via the cooperation between the government and Beijing IC Design Park. A number of local government officials and renowned industry experts have taken part in the unveiling and signing ceremony hosted in TEDA Investment Service Center today.

1 Jan 2008 –TII to manage Tianda Science Park

TII has been given the authority to take charge of all issues concerning Tianda Science Park as of today, and consequently, TII has to renew the lease contracts with all the existing occupiers in the Park. Department of Assets of TII will take care of the whole facilities, and preparations are being made for the upcoming major renovation of the buildings.