A manufacturing workshop of Wuhan Huazhong Numerical Control Co, which has three subsidiaries ranked as little giant firms last year. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC) is home to 144 enterprises recognized among the new group of little giant companies set by the Department of Economy and Information Technology of Hubei Province. The valley is currently home to 184 little giant firms, more than any other place in Wuhan.

Little giant firms refer to small and medium-sized enterprises that play leading roles in their own areas. They concentrate on market segmentation, hold large market shares, possess core technologies and are highly efficient, quality-oriented and innovative.

Data show that Optics Valley of China has cultivated nine little giant companies supported by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Finance, 25 such firms at the national level, and 176 at the provincial level.

Geo Star Information Technology Co – one such firm based in the valley – has won first place in the State Science and Technology Awards. This is largely due to the close connection among industries, universities and research institutes, according to Wang Lin, a staff member of the company. It took Wuhan University and the company eight years to win the honor.