Connecting chains into groups — Fujian's emerging industries accelerate their growth

Given the complex economic situation at home and abroad, Fujian is driven by innovation, continuously extending its industrial chain around emerging industries. During interviews, reporters found that a group of high-tech enterprises strengthen their ability to withstand risks through clustered development and collaborative innovation, continuously releasing new momentum for development.

Fujian Fuji Crystal Technology Co., Ltd. mainly engages in R&D, production, and sales of crystal materials and optical components. Its products are widely used in the laser and optical communications fields.

In the company’s crystal growth area, crystal after crystal keeps rotating inside the growth furnace, shining and translucent like gemstones. “This is the company’s flagship product: the lithium triborate crystal (LBO). It takes at least 3 months to take shape.” Chen Xiaо, manager of the company’s crystal growth department, said that this nonlinear optical crystal used to achieve high-power third-harmonic frequency output is the basic material for realizing nanosecond, picosecond, and femtosecond laser technologies, and the product’s market share is among the global leaders.

Following market orientation and continuously innovating technology. “Technological innovation gives us the confidence to develop,” said Chen Qiuhua, the company’s general manager. The company’s annual R&D expenditure accounts for more than 10% of the company’s operating revenue, and it has pricing power in the industry.

Although overseas markets have been trending downward recently, Fujian Fuji Crystal Technology still maintains a solid development momentum. On the one hand, domestic orders have grown clearly; on the other hand, the company’s technology is leading, and overseas clients are highly dependent, making it difficult to find suitable replacement products.

Next to the company’s building, a new 20-story plant is being built at an accelerated pace. Chen Qiuhua said this is the company’s Phase II plant, which is expected to reach full capacity in 2030. With leading enterprises such as Fujian Fuji Crystal Technology driving the way, Fuzhou’s photonics industry is forming clusters.

Develop in a chained manner, and climb to higher ground. Centering on strategic emerging industries such as next-generation information technology, new materials, new energy, biopharmaceuticals, and high-end equipment, Fujian continues to fill in gaps and extend the industrial chains of emerging industries.

Entering the production workshop of Ningde Times, blue battery cells come off the production line one after another, and after assembly here, the batteries are shipped to markets around the world. Lithium battery new energy is Fujian’s strong industry. As an industry leader, Ningde Times continuously expands product application scenarios, and for many years its shipment volume has ranked among the top globally. According to data, last year Ningde Times’s revenue exceeded 423.7 billion yuan, up 17.04% year over year, and its net profit attributable to shareholders was 72.2 billion yuan, up 42.28%.

At present, Ningde Times already has more than 80 upstream and downstream enterprises in lithium battery new energy, covering the industrial chain segments such as cathode materials, anode materials, separators, electrolytes, and battery recycling. This enables about 80% of procurement for leading enterprises to be carried out nearby, effectively promoting coordinated development across the lithium battery industry.

Inside the workshop of Ningde New Energy Pioneer Testing Technology Co., Ltd., located in Ningde, battery modules are being tested through inspection. “We are responsible for overseeing the quality of lithium batteries. Before the batteries enter the market, they all need to undergo reliability testing,” said Wang Ming, head of the company’s laboratory. Ningde Times is the company’s customer. Over multiple consecutive years, the company’s performance has leaped upward, and orders have continued to grow since the beginning of this year.

Ningde Sikeqi Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. provides customized production lines specifically for Ningde Times. Zheng Ting, assistant to the general manager, said that after becoming one of Ningde Times’s main suppliers, the company has gradually grown into a leading enterprise in a segmented track. Orders have grown rapidly since the beginning of this year.

Seize the leading enterprises, forge the supply chains, and build clusters. The story of how bringing in one company forms a park and creates an industrial cluster is being played out continuously across Bamin.

At the Fujian Three Gorges Offshore Wind Power International Industrial Park in Fuqing City, in the intelligent manufacturing workshop of Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd., some employees are assembling offshore wind power generator sets.

Sheng Lei, head of the operating company of the Fujian Three Gorges Offshore Wind Power International Industrial Park, said that driven by the Three Gorges Group, upstream companies such as Goldwind Science & Technology, Dongfang Electric, and Power Construction Corporation of China have moved in one after another. At present, the park covers all key links across the entire industrial chain, including motors, blades, complete-unit packaging, and offshore lifting and installation, further advancing industrial clustering.

Leading enterprises guide the way, and chain-style development helps build a new industrial ecosystem. According to data, Fujian has now built 4 national-level and 17 provincial-level strategic emerging industry clusters. The number of national high-tech enterprises exceeds 15,000. An industrial blueprint that emphasizes both scale and quality is unfolding.