ChinaSourcing: Could you introduce the development status of the park, and also the occupancy rate?
Chen: The park was founded in September 2007, located in the south bank of Yangtze River with an area of only 1.5 square kilometers for the initial plan—the smallest park in Jiangsu Province. However, we have achieved huge advancement and breakthroughs thanks to the tremendous support from the Jiangyin Government.
In June 2008, the park passed the acceptance test, which was conducted by the provincial department of science and technology, officially becoming Jiangsu’s first provincial software park located in a city at county level. Currently there are seven functional zones including software firms centralized zone, cultural creative software R & D zone, personnel training zone, ecological recreation zone, commercial life service zone, financial business supporting zone, and high quality residential zone.
Since its establishment, the Park has welcomed more than 100 settlements including FuJiTsu, Jiangyin Shenzhou SoftWare, Jiangyin Minglun Technology, Jiangyin Autolink, and Zhangqi Animation, with more than RMB1000 million initial funds. Among them five are private high-tech enterprises at provincial levels, two have obtained the level three CMMI certification, and eight companies have been accredited the “double-soft” certification. FounderSoft and Japan’s CCW are about to settle in the Park, and Shenzhou technology workstation, the first workstation operated by Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Mr He Xingui, has already settled down.
In addition, the rudiments of several infrastructures have been finished, providing the park better platforms for further intensive development. Jiangyin Software Park has set up a software testing and validating platform in partnership with Japan’s FuJiTsu, the world’s third biggest IT service provider. This platform is among the most advanced in China, providing CMM accreditation and software talents training for Jiangyin city and surrounding areas.
In March 2008, the Jiangyin Government founded Jiangyin Information technology Institute of Nanjing University with Jiangyin New Port City Management Committee, and Nanjing University with a total investment of RMB20 million, which consists of three laboratory centers for software engineering, logistics engineering, and bioelectronics engineering respectively, and one talents training base, where is used to train technology research and development personnel. Currently, the institute has obtained intellectual property in the areas of software testing, port traffic information system, professional digital equipment for medical treatment, and smart logistics softwares. We also have five business incubators, and eight projects have applied for government support with more than RMB3 million investment return. We have also invested RMB300 million and planned nearly 50 thousand square-meters for the five star Zhifu Mansion, which is under construction. The building, which is scheduled to put into operation in 2010, caters to enterprises with multi-purpose functions, such as business incubating, software development, office area, and business centers. In addition, the second and third construction stages Jiangfeng Square has commenced, and is due to completion in December. The precinct will cater to software talents with office area, convention rooms, and entertainment and relaxation area. Besides, an animation street is also under planning.
ChinaSourcing: There are now many industrial parks in China, and what are your park’s advantages in attracting investment?
Chen: To sum up, we have the following advantages.
Location: Our park is suited in the New Port City, only three to five minutes drive from downtown, and only one and a half hours drive from Nanjing and Shanghai. After the completion of the express rail link between Shanghai and Nanjing, the travelling time will be further shorted 20 minutes. We offer very convenient life here as well. The park is close to the port, right next to Wangjiang Park with a fantastic lake view. It caters for park staff with high quality recreational, entertainment, and fitness areas.
Facilities: Our park has a sound service system covering life and work. We also have advanced infrastructures such as network and database, which are fulfilling the development needs. Furthermore, our park will enter to a high level after the settlement of Jiangyin Information Technology Institute of Nanjing University and FuJiTsu Software Testing Center, and the construction of Zhifu Mansion.
Talents: Yingqiao International has offered a variety of trainings in software design and foreign languages, and the above mentioned institutions and enterprises have also offered all kinds of talents training courses. All these have profoundly enriched the resources of software design talents, providing opportunities of on-job-training.
Size: We have attracted many enterprises already but we are still focusing on providing tailored and specific services. The settlement-induced effect will be more obvious and visible after the joining of Founder International, CCW, and FuJiTsu.
Industry: Our park has taken advantage of Jiangyin’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and service industries. We adopted a so-called “double driving forces” strategy, which puts software and culture industries in priority, aiming at shaping a complex of software and international culture industries.
Policy: Jiangyin Government has decided to prioritize the development of software industry, contributing dedicated support regarding policies and funds. The government has issued the 530 Plan for elite talents and the 123 Plan for enterprises. Also, our park has prepared adequate funds and tailored preferential policies targeting at encouraging the advancement of software and service outsourcing industries.
ChinaSourcing: There is now wide optimism about the future of outsourcing industry. What measures has your park implemented to attract more talents?
Chen: We have speeded up the construction of the three research and development centers I have mentioned above, taking advantages of our advantages in technology, resources, and funds and endeavouring to attract talents through market and projects
In addition, FuJiTsu Jiangyin Software Testing Center has assisted other enterprises in training software personnel. The first group of nine people from Jiangyin Information Technology Center of Nanjing University have successfully completed their training. In the future, we will be thoroughly analyzing enterprises’ needs, and conducting tailored trainings for their employees.
Jiangyin Outsourcing Talents Training Center is also going to participate in the 2009 Jiangyin Graduates Training Program, which plans to offer courses such as Software Development Outsourcing, and Business Japanese, complying with standard set by the Education Bureau. We aim to foster talents in the disciplines of computer programming, software testing, technical service sales to satisfy enterprises’ needs and consequently accelerate settlement-induced effect.
ChinaSourcing: In the future, how will the park take advantage of its own advantages to explore a path with unique characteristics?
Chen: Jiangyin is still at the early development stage in outsourcing industry, therefore our park should bring our advantages and characteristics into play to boost the process. Firstly, Jiangyin is the origin of private small business in China. We are leading the edge in spinning, manufacturing, new materials, and bio-pharmaceutical industries. Our city is home to 22 listed firms up to the year of 2007, being addressed as “Jiangyin Board”. Our park will take advantage of the city’s solid foundation to boost the outsourcing industry.
Secondly, Jiangyin has a 35-kilometer long coastline, which is called “golden sector” by experts. Jiangyin Port is classified as an “important harbor” in all of the layout plannings for nationwide costal ports, Yangtze River ports and Jiangsu ports. An UWB smart storage management system and a visualized mechanical integrated system, designed by Jiangyin Information Technology Institute of Nanjing University will be installed in the New Huangpu, Shanghai and Jiangyin Ports.
In the meantime, our park will also speed up the advancement of Jiangyin Information Technology Research and Development Center, FuJiTsu Software Testing Center, and the Service Outsourcing Talents Training Center in an attempt to implement technology consultation, business incubating, product testing, talents fostering and importing, and merchant services. We also will expand the cooperation with Japanese firms, ensuring training graduates could not only be sent to Japan, but also be hired in our park.
ChinaSourcing: We know that Jiangyin Software Park is gaining more fame. So what is your vision for its future development?
Chen: Jiangyin has been awarded the most economically advanced city in county level for the sixth consecutive year. In 2009, our park will avail ourselves of the city’s strong economy, and advanced manufacturing industry to become an outstanding software park. Our focus will lie on software production outsourcing, and culture industry. We will endeavor to achieve the following goals by 2011: having 10 thousand employees, hosting 200 software production outsourcing enterprises, attracting 15 top-hundred software companies, holding 15 business incubating projects at national and provincial levels, establishing 10 firms with more than 100 personnel, enhancing cooperation with universities and famous software firms, becoming a software industry base in the Torch Program, and eventually becoming a national software park.
Introduction of Chen Fuliang: Mr. Chen Fuliang is Head of the Management Committee of Jiangyin Software Park.
(Reproduced from "ChinaSourcing" magazine)
