With its gross domestic product rising by 5.8 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, the eastern province of Anhui has made a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, according to the province's top official.

Wang Qingxian, governor of Anhui, said the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation will continue to serve as the core engine driving the province's high-quality development.

He made the remarks during a news conference in Hefei, the provincial capital, on Friday.

During an inspection tour of the province in 2024, President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, urged Anhui to establish itself as an important hub of sci-tech innovation, a center for emerging industries, a new frontier for reform and opening-up, and a comprehensive green transformation zone for socioeconomic development.

Concrete examples highlight the province's successful integration of technology and industry.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Anhui's GDP reached 5.3 trillion yuan ($776 billion), while its industrial revenue ranked fifth nationwide at 5.9 trillion yuan.

Enterprises have served as the main drivers of innovation, with more than 80 percent of research and development investment coming from high-tech companies, which have expanded faster than expected.

The previous five-year plan set a target of increasing the number of national-level high-tech enterprises in the province to more than 13,000 by the end of 2025. The actual figure exceeded 24,000 by then.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Anhui identified 10 sectors as strategic emerging industries, which accounted for 45.4 percent of industrial output by the end of 2025, laying a solid foundation for the integration of technology and industry, Wang said.

To further transform innovation advantages into industrial strength, the provincial government said it will upgrade its strategic emerging industries.

Four industries will retain their names: next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, high-end equipment manufacturing, and new materials. Another four industries have been renamed intelligent connected new energy vehicles, new energy and green low-carbon, smart home, and biomedicine and high-end medical equipment.

The digital creativity and green food industries have been replaced by the robotics industry and the low-altitude economy and aerospace industry.

Meanwhile, the province will cultivate 10 future industries, including quantum technology and embodied intelligence, upgrade eight traditional industries through technological transformation, and develop eight modern service sectors.

According to Wang, strategic emerging industries are those with a solid foundation, while future industries are those in which the province enjoys a first-mover advantage.

Quantum computers such as Jiuzhang, Zuchongzhi and Wukong, which have frequently made headlines, were developed by teams in Hefei.

Public information shows that the province is now home to dozens of quantum technology companies.

Anhui will provide more funding, talent and policy support to enterprises and encourage leading companies to establish innovation consortiums, allowing enterprises to help determine research directions and make key decisions, according to the news conference on Friday.

zhulixin@chinadaily.com.cn