Nantong National High-tech Industrial Development Zone (NHIZ) demonstrated resilient economic performance in the first half of 2025, with its three pillar industries — automotive components, next-generation IT, and intelligent manufacturing systems — accounting for 88.17 percent of the total industrial output among companies above designated size in the zone, according to the zone's semi-annual work conference held on July 26.

Through innovative investment attraction models, NHIZ has established a market-oriented investment promotion company, securing 20 projects valued at over 500 million yuan ($69.37 million) or $30 million during the first half of the year.

Additionally, NHIZ stepped up its innovation-driven initiatives, achieving notable results in enterprise tiered cultivation. Companies such as Zhongkeyi and Shitong Biotech were recognized as provincial-level specialized and sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprises. Nine enterprises, including Shennan Circuits and Aptiv Connector Systems, were honored as advanced-level smart factories.

Furthermore, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Nantong Advanced Technology Research Institute attracted over 10 enterprises and projects within its first year of operation, and construction is accelerating on the Huawei (Nantong) Digital Economy Collaborative Innovation Base, which is projected to launch in August.