In Yinggeshi Science City, located in the western part of the Dalian High-Tech Industrial Zone, laboratories are rapidly emerging.

The construction of the Dalian Advanced Light Source project's large-scale scientific facility has been completed, with the installation and debugging of core components currently underway. Additionally, the nearly 300,000 square meter laboratory project has been capped, including the Liaoning Binhai Laboratory, Liaoning Huanghai Laboratory, Dalian Lingshui Bay Laboratory, and laboratories affiliated with the Dalian University of Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics. A total of 1,891 researchers specializing in 238 fields have confirmed their residency.

The goal of Dalian Yinggeshi Science City is to establish itself as an innovation hub of global influence, a global leading center for clean energy innovation and an incubation center for cutting-edge emerging industries.

In recent years, Dalian has focused on the strategic goal of becoming a "nationally influential scientific and technological innovation center" and has rigorously implemented an innovation-driven development strategy.

Currently, Dalian boasts 115 national-level and 635 municipal-level or higher scientific and technological innovation platforms. The city also hosts nine national key laboratories. In 2023, the Dalian Artificial Intelligence Computing Center was approved as a national new generation AI public computing power innovation platform.

In February, Chen Zhongwei's team at the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Chinese Academy of Sciences' Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, announced several research breakthroughs. They successfully conducted a test flight of an industrial-grade unmanned aerial vehicle powered by their high-energy lithium-ion battery. Remarkably, the battery can operate reliably in temperatures as low as -60 C, achieving performance levels that are internationally leading.

The researchers achieved this breakthrough by addressing several key challenges. They developed a next-generation composite electrolyte that enhances the flow of ions within the battery, especially at low temperatures. And they also incorporated a multi-layer composite electrode structure with a novel semi-solid electrolyte and modified active materials, leading to improved stability and conductivity.

The new battery also addresses safety concerns associated with traditional lithium-ion batteries, which primarily use liquid electrolytes, which can leak and ignite, posing a fire risk. The new design utilizes a proprietary semi-solid electrolyte, reducing the liquid component and therefore increasing fire resistance.

Chen's team has a 1,500 square meter laboratory in Dalian Yinggeshi Science City, housing over 120 researchers and engineers.

As construction progresses alongside operations, Dalian has coordinated various resources, strengthened policy support to advance the construction of the Liaoning Binhai Laboratory and the Liaoning Huanghai Laboratory.

The Liaoning Binhai Laboratory has been established to undertake major scientific and technological projects and facilitate the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. The laboratory collaborates with 31 domestic universities, 12 institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and 13 enterprises to tackle key technological challenges. These efforts aim to drive Dalian's high-quality development through breakthroughs in key technologies.

Presently, the laboratory is engaged in 23 projects with a total funding of 128 million yuan ($17.61 million), and has attracted over 190 high-level talents.

On April 15, Huanghai Jingwei Technology (Dalian) Co Ltd was founded, marking the first disciplinary company to be successfully nurtured by the Liaoning Huanghai Laboratory. With support from the laboratory, the company focuses on the high-end electronic device industry.

The Liaoning Huanghai Laboratory has maintained cooperative relations with leading enterprises to facilitate the transformation and upgrading of the high-end equipment manufacturing industry.

With a focus on the demands in sectors such as new energy, marine engineering, and transportation, the laboratory has prioritized key research areas, including high-grade CNC machine tools, aerospace equipment manufacturing, intelligent manufacturing, and smart equipment. It has initiated nine major independent research projects, attracting a total investment of 160 million yuan from enterprises.