Qingdao's new rubber material and smart equipment innovation center was unveiled at Qingdao University of Science and Technology on Dec. 17.

The center will facilitate the progress of technological development, integration of resources, technology transfer, and enterprise incubation, with support of research facilities including Qingdao University of Science and Technology and MESNAC Co.

Four research platforms will be built within the structure to promote technological development in new rubber material, intelligent manufacturing of tire product, rubber product, and green tire product.

Jiang Bo, director of Qingdao technology department, said that the creation of the center is part of the city's measures to build an innovative city, and pledged that the bureau will support the construction of the center.

It is estimated that the city's rubber industry will reach 120 billion yuan of output value by 2020.