The FLAME advanced field-reversed magnetic mirror fusion device, independently developed by Xingneng Xuanguang in Hefei High-tech Zone, has completed construction and achieved its first plasma discharge experiment. Using a field-reversed configuration fusion approach, the FLAME device can create a "miniature sun" at approximately one-tenth the cost of traditional tokamak devices. Sun Xuan, founder and chairman of Xingneng Xuanguang, believes this configuration enables high plasma confinement under lower magnetic fields, with self-organized plasma structures suppressing previously predicted instabilities, potentially making it a dark horse in the commercialization of fusion energy.
Fusion energy is one of three major scientific innovation highlands that Anhui is committed to developing. Over the past year, Anhui has prioritized serving national strategic needs and developing key national technologies, continuously strengthening strategic scientific and technological capabilities. The province has maintained a leading or parallel position globally in scientific innovation, with a series of landmark achievements highlighting Anhui’s robust scientific strength.
In the quantum information field, Anhui has established the Hefei National Laboratory with high standards, reinforcing its role as a central platform and leader in the industry. The nation’s only quantum technology and industrial center has been set up in Anhui, alongside the operational Quantum Industry Science Park. In fusion energy, the compact fusion energy experimental device (BEST) has entered the assembly phase ahead of schedule, with its first key component, the cryostat base, successfully installed. The "EAST" device set a new world record by achieving "100 million degrees for 1,000 seconds," positioning Anhui at the forefront of international fusion energy commercialization. In deep-space exploration, Anhui is accelerating the construction of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory and Deep Space Science City, and successfully hosted the 3rd International Conference on Deep Space Exploration (TianDu).
Looking beyond current breakthroughs, Anhui is planning new scientific innovation highlands for long-term development. The province is strengthening forward-looking layouts in artificial intelligence and life sciences, planning the establishment of a Scientific Intelligence and Material Creation Center, and exploring cross-disciplinary collaboration and integration to enhance the cluster and radiation effects of scientific innovation.
High-level innovation platforms serve as powerful engines for progress. Anhui is actively building a matrix of high-energy scientific platforms. The number of national key laboratories has doubled. The Yangtze River Delta National Technology Innovation Center and the Hefei Disruptive Technology Innovation Center are now operational. Three new provincial laboratories—focusing on intelligent connected new energy vehicles, biological breeding, and safe AI in the Yangtze River Delta—have been established, along with 12 provincial (specialized) industrial innovation research institutes.
Scientific and industrial innovation are fundamental pathways for developing new quality productive forces. Anhui focuses on modernizing its industrial system, aligning innovation chains with industrial chains and vice versa, and fostering new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions. Efforts are accelerating to transfer research outcomes from the laboratory to the production line, enhancing the role of scientific innovation in industrial development.
At Changxin Technology’s production workshop in Wuhu, glass components carrying core technologies are being produced continuously. These are X-ray imaging sensors developed through a three-year collaborative effort involving Changxin Technology, multiple universities, and enterprises. Yu Liang, R&D Center Director of Wuhu Changxin Technology, stated that the company’s independently developed X-ray imaging sensor optimizes the width-to-length ratio and layered structure design of indium gallium zinc oxide thin-film transistors, successfully reducing pixel size to 100 micrometers.
The breakthrough in X-ray imaging sensors exemplifies how Anhui’s scientific innovation initiatives are driving the development of high-end equipment industries. Over the past year, Anhui has addressed the most urgent challenges in industrial chains through a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches, strengthening systematic layouts. A total of 113 provincial scientific innovation projects were initiated, achieving breakthroughs in key core technologies across the entire chain.
Enterprises are the main force behind innovation. To stimulate greater innovation vitality among enterprises, Anhui has introduced 20 measures to promote high-quality development of technology-based firms, providing substantial financial support for corporate innovation. More than 80% of provincial scientific research projects, funding, and R&D investments are now undertaken by enterprises.
Data reflects the results: By 2025, the number of new technology-based SMEs is expected to exceed 7,000, bringing the total to 42,000. Eighteen unicorn enterprises have been cultivated, showing counter-trend growth amid a national decline. The numbers of companies listed on the STAR Market, technology-based SMEs, unicorns, and high-tech enterprises rank 6th, 5th, 6th, and 8th nationally, respectively. Additionally, value-added output in the province’s high-tech industries above designated size increased by 15.1% year-on-year, 5.7 percentage points higher than the industrial average. Exports of high-tech products reached 159.82 billion yuan, up 16.6% year-on-year, and Anhui’s AI industry development evaluation rose to 5th place nationally.
Anhui is also cultivating a fertile environment for innovation. Recently, at the Hefei Future Great Science City—a key construction area within the Hefei Binhu Science City—the first section of the main tower steel structure for the 400-meter Luzhou Tower was precisely hoisted and smoothly positioned, marking the successful completion of its first lift. A project leader from Hefei Future Great Science City Construction Investment Co., Ltd. explained that the first steel section is the core load-bearing component of the main tower, and its successful installation is critical for subsequent steel structure construction. The Luzhou Tower, a tall steel structure stayed-cable tower, is designed to break the Asian record for similar facilities. With numerous heavy components, over 40,000 fasteners, and extreme wind resistance challenges due to its height, the lifting and installation process is highly complex.
Over the past year, Anhui has advanced the substantive reform of Hefei Binhu Science City with high standards, improving top-level design, building innovation platforms, and strengthening application scenarios. Major projects such as the Deep Space Science City are also in planning and construction. Anhui is exploring pathways for implementing a new nationwide system tailored to local conditions, launching the "Rixin: Jianghuai Science and Technology Salon" to facilitate dialogues among top scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators, continuously enhancing the province’s reputation for scientific innovation.
Financial resources are being channeled precisely to support enterprises. Anhui has implemented a three-year action plan for empowering scientific innovation through finance. The "Common Growth Plan" has served over 14,000 enterprises, and the province has pioneered a comprehensive risk guarantee mechanism for the entire scientific innovation chain. Loans to technology-based enterprises have surpassed milestones, reaching 900 billion yuan. The scale of science and technology guarantee plans ranks 2nd nationally, and the country’s first national-level S-fund has been established in Anhui.
The province is also accelerating the development of scientific and technological services. Anhui took the lead nationally in issuing an action plan for high-quality development of scientific and technological services, along with management measures for building innovation clusters in this sector. Ten high-level clusters have been established. By integrating scientific innovation with institutional innovation, Anhui is improving mechanisms that support comprehensive innovation, leveraging sci-tech finance and services to underpin scientific and industrial advancement, fostering a high-level innovation ecosystem, and safeguarding the momentum of scientific and technological development.
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