The Shenzhen Municipal Government on Friday awarded developers of 89 products demonstrating scientific and technological innovation with a total of 5.26 million yuan (US$650,000).

Xu Hang, chairman of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co, one of China's biggest medical equipment suppliers, won this year's 500,000-yuan Shenzhen Mayor Award, which is widely regarded as the highest honor in Shenzhen's scientific and technological field.

Seventeen telecommunications, software, electronic and medical products were picked for the first prize, while the second and third prizes went to the 71 other innovative products. The awards for the three prizes were 100,000 yuan, 60,000 yuan and 30,000 yuan respectively.

Shenzhen is different from other cities in China as it does not rely heavily on academic institutions as major R&D forces. Instead, Shenzhen's enterprises play a vital role in Shenzhen's scientific and technological development, said Liu Zhongpu, chief of the local science, technology and information bureau.

Among this year's awarded products, 91.3 percent were developed by local enterprises. Young people and returned overseas Chinese students have become the backbone for Shenzhen's scientific and technological development, said Liu.

The innovative products are expected to bring about 87.6 billion yuan over the next three years for the companies that own them, according to Liu.

Reform and innovation are essential to Shenzhen's long-term development, said Shenzhen's top leader Li Hongzhong on Friday.

(Shenzhen Daily December 5, 2005)