THE number of professionals and technicians, the backbone of those working in the science and technology sector in Shenzhen, had reached 1.83 million by the end of 2019, statistics from the Shenzhen Science and Technology Association said Saturday, the National Science and Technology Workers’ Day.

For every 10 permanent residents in Shenzhen, there are 1.5 professionals and technicians. In 40 years, the number of science and technology workers in the city has increased by 900,000 times compared with 40 years ago at which time there were only two professionals, one was a technician in tractor repair and maintenance, and the other was a veterinarian.

In 40 years, the city’s GDP also increased by 10,000 folds, evidencing the statement that “science and technology constitute a primary productive force.”

The science and technology workers underpin the development of Shenzhen as a city of innovation. In 2019, the number of invention patents in Shenzhen was 106.3 for every 10,000 people, eight times the national average.

The number of ICT applications reached 17,459, taking up one-third of the total number of applications for the entire country, and taking the lead among major Chinese cities for 16 straight years.

The major force of science and technology workers comes from enterprises and the high-tech industry. In 2019, the production value of Shenzhen’s high-tech enterprises exceeded 2.6 trillion yuan (US$364 billion) and 2,700 State-level high-tech enterprises were added, bringing the total number of enterprises to 17,000, second only to Beijing.

By the end of 2019, Shenzhen had 2,258 innovation incubators, attracting talented staff from around the country and the world.

In a letter to mark the National Science and Technology Workers’ Day, the Shenzhen CPC committee and city government said the city will further create an atmosphere for respecting talented individuals and knowledge, and create favorable conditions for growth, innovation and entrepreneurship of science and technology workers.

(Han Ximin)