The National Innovation Institute of Digital Design and Manufacturing, based in Wuhan Future City, East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China), now boasts a chief research team consisting of five academicians.

Meanwhile, many top enterprises and research institutes also gather in the institute to contribute to China's digital and intelligent manufacturing technologies.

Digital products self-developed by the institute recently debuted and drew public attention in the 13th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.

Professor Peng Fangyu, general manager of the institute, said the center aimed to coordinate industries, universities, research and applications. It was, Peng added, tasked with providing China with efficient and high-end core industrial software and processing equipment. The institute focuses in particular on three engineering areas – laser and new displays, digitalization and the intelligentization of robotic equipment, as well as core industrial software.

By the end of September, the institute had led or undertaken 14 major national science and technology projects since 2018, when it was established in the zone.

One of the success stories was the production of China's first patented display inkjet printing equipment, which entered the market in October, after 15 years of development.

Utilizing cutting-edge printing technology, the institute reportedly signed an agreement with the National Printing and Flexible Display Innovation Center and The Creative Life China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co to co-establish China's first new display inkjet printing equipment company.

In addition to the productive institute, Wuhan Future City also has two other State innovation centers – the National Advanced Storage Industry Innovation Center and National Digital Construction and Security Technological Innovation Center.

The three facilities are said to become a core driving force behind the development of the Optics Valley Sci-Tech Innovation Corridor and East-Lake Science City.