Dezhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone

Dezhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, or China's Functional Sugar Town, was established in March 1993 and elevated to the national level by the State Council in September 2015.

Covering an area of 6.89 square kilometers, the zone is home to a population of 50,000. It was rated as a pilot base for biotechnology industries, a national top 100 development zone in terms of technological innovation, and the best place to invest in Shandong province.

Dezhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone features four leading industries, covering biotechnology, manufacturing of high-end equipment, new materials, and clean energy. The biotechnology industry, in particular, boasts an annual capacity of 1.3 million tons, with an international market share of about 35 percent. It has no rivals in terms of its capacity in producing xylitol.

To date, the zone is home to more than 400 enterprises, including three listed companies and 13 certified national hi-tech enterprises, 55 provincial R&D institutions, and four workstations run by post-doctoral teams.