WND to build R&D center focusing on new materials

The ground-breaking ceremony for Yili Group's new R&D center in Wuxi National Hi-tech District is held April 1. [Photo/wnd.gov.cn]

The ground-breaking ceremony for Yili Group's new research and development (R&D) center in Wuxi National Hi-tech District was held April 1.

With investment of 300 million yuan ($42.33 million), the new R&D center will cover 2.3 hectares with a planned construction area of about 47,000 square meters.

The project will mainly focus on researching and developing new materials and technologies, including an off-gas treatment system that will meet the requirements of China VI vehicle emission standards, nanofiltration materials and high polymer materials, thus finally building a leading new materials R&D center for Asia.

A planning map of Yili Group's new R&D center [Photo/wnd.gov.cn]

Its total revenues are forecast to exceed 500 million yuan, and it will gather nearly 1,000 talented R&D workers from all over the world, as well as applying for more than 100 high-value patents under approval. At the same time, the projects incubated by the R&D center will also be based in WND for industrialized development, in order to further expand the new materials industry cluster in the district.

Yili Group is a leading domestic firm specializing in commercial vehicle filtration systems. The company donated 100,000 masks to help companies in WND to resume operations after closing due to the COVID-19 outbreak.