The Information Office of Hubei Provincial People's Government held a news conference on Feb 20 to introduce its plans for accelerating the development of a strong sci-tech province.

On Feb 18, the 2020 Hubei science and technology innovation conference was held, during which officials launched seven Hubei laboratories, and several outstanding sci-tech workers were honored. Officials also launched the construction of the Optics Valley sci-tech innovation corridor during the event.

Optics Valley of China, also known as East Lake High-tech Development Zone, is located in Wuhan, the capital of Central China's Hubei province. It is a sci-tech core area in Wuhan and Hubei.

By the end of 2025, the number of high-tech companies in Optics Valley sci-tech innovation corridor will hit 12,000 – an increase of roughly 7,000 from 2019. By the end of 2035, the Optics Valley sci-tech innovation corridor will be an important hub for the global innovation network, as announced at the news conference.

Xia Yamin, deputy director of the zone's management committee, said that in 2021, authorities would fully launch the construction of Optics Valley's science island, and the construction of five Hubei laboratories in the zone will be accelerated.

Also, two large scientific devices will be upgraded – one related to intense magnetic field pulses and the other precision gravity measurement. The construction of two large scientific devices for biomedical imaging and synchrotron radiation lighting will begin.

The zone will gather a group of top scientists and research teams at home and abroad to establish cutting-edge leading technologies and cultivate a group of leading technology companies and leading industrial clusters, according to the official.