The 9th Zhihui Lishui Talent and Science and Technology Summit opens in Lishui on Oct 24. [Photo/lsnews.com.cn]

The 9th Zhihui Lishui Talent and Science and Technology Summit opened in the city of Lishui in East China's Zhejiang province on Oct 24, according to reports in the local media.

A total of 19 academicians and experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Canada – together with more than 150 leading people from the sector – convened at the event, to share ideas and suggestions on the development of the sci-tech industry and the recruitment of professionals to the city.

Lishui has been making great efforts in recruiting top people in recent years. Last year – after signing accords with Zhejiang Lab and the Yangtze Delta Region Research Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang – the city signed strategic cooperation agreements with Westlake University at the summit.

Shi Yigong, principal of Westlake University, said that in future the research direction of the School of Life Science, School of Science and School of Engineering at Westlake University will be attuned to the  practical needs of Lishui, so as to boost its innovative development.

A total of 16 projects – including the new Lishui Hospital at the Zhejiang Chinese Medical University and the Longquan Innovation Center at Hangzhou Dianzi University – were signed at the opening ceremony of the summit.

According to official statistics, last year saw 24.9 percent growth in  high-tech industry investment in Lishui, ranking it first in Zhejiang province.

Officials said that in 2019 the city realized added value in it high-tech industry of 10.62 billion yuan and technological R&D expenditure of companies increased by 57 percent, both ranking second in the province.