Shanxi authorities held a news conference on June 9, detailing arrangements to establish a first-class innovation system contained in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) in Shanxi province. 

Under the plan, Shanxi will focus on resolving niggling problems -- including weak innovation platforms, a shortage of innovators, poor commercialization of innovation results and poor conditions for innovative talent -- which need to be overcome to create a leading innovation system. 

During the period, Shanxi will promote the construction of first-class universities and first-class disciplines and comprehensively improve the quality and competitiveness of its higher education. By the end of 2023, the target is for a leap forwards in the overall level of higher education in the province.

The province will, by the end of 2025, realize the establishment of national laboratories, national scientific installations and national supercomputer centers, a number of national and provincial key labs. And there will be increased R&D investment and more high-tech enterprises. 

In addition, pilot-scale experiment bases will cover all 14 strategic industrial clusters in Shanxi.