At the junction of Shenzhen and Dongguan, the 99-square-kilometer Guangming Science City in Shenzhen and the 90.5-square-kilometer Songshan Lake Science City in Dongguan sit back-to-back across the majestic Wei’e Mountain. From this location, one can reach nine cities in the Pearl River Delta within just one hour.
On June 21, the Greater Bay Area Comprehensive National Science Center Pioneer Zone Alliance was inaugurated at the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum. Its emblem “We-Science”, fuses “We” (from Wei’e’s initials) and “Science,” with the logo evoking a mountain peak symbolizing collective scientific endeavor.
From this day forward, Shenzhen and Dongguan will usher in a new model of “dual-city collaboration and region-wide coordination,” joining forces to scale the heights of scientific innovation.
Universities, research institutes, major scientific infrastructure, and high-tech enterprises from both cities will work together more closely, engaging in cross-regional, cross-institutional, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This will foster the co-construction and sharing of innovation resources across Shenzhen and Dongguan, forming interconnected scientific, residential, and transportation zones around Wei’e Mountain—a collaborative innovation community built on dual-city synergy.
Located in the heart of the Greater Bay Area’s “golden inner bay” and the central section of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Macao science and technology innovation corridor, a nearly 200-square-kilometer world-class science hub is taking shape. The full-chain innovation ecosystem—from scientific breakthroughs to technological transformation and industrial upgrading—is accelerating, providing a continuous source of growth momentum for the Greater Bay Area.
From 0 to 1
Shenzhen and Dongguan “plant” three axes over five years
In China’s science and technology innovation system, comprehensive national science centers occupy the pyramid’s apex. Their defining feature is the word “national,” with a focus on “science” and “innovation,” embodying both national will and regional strategic priorities
In 2016, China launched the development of comprehensive national science centers, establishing them as key forces in fulfilling national missions and driving innovation.
Over the past nine years, five such centers have been approved: in Zhangjiang (Shanghai), Hefei (Anhui), Huairou (Beijing), the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, and Xi’an (Shaanxi).
In 2019, the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Supporting Shenzhen in Building a Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics designated Shenzhen as the primary base for constructing the Greater Bay Area Comprehensive National Science Center.
In July 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology officially approved the launch of the pilot zone for the Greater Bay Area Comprehensive National Science Center, located in the contiguous area spanning Guangming Science City (Shenzhen) and Songshan Lake Science City (Dongguan). This marked the approval of the fourth national science center in China.
Over the past five years, Shenzhen and Dongguan have deepened their collaboration. Innovation elements have begun flowing rapidly across administrative boundaries, turning previously separate science cities into a cohesive cluster. Together, they have formed three high-value scientific development axes:
The mathematics science axis represents home to platforms like “Pengcheng Cloudbrain III” and Phase II of the National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen. This axis will continuously supply computing power to support the advancement of artificial intelligence.
The material science axis features Guangming Science City, which hosts major scientific infrastructures such as the High-repetition X-ray Free Electron Laser Facility, the Materials Genome Project, and facilities for special environment material and device research. Meanwhile, Songshan Lake Science City is home to the China Spallation Neutron Source and the Advanced Attosecond Laser Facility.
The life science axis features major facilities for brain analysis and simulation, synthetic biology research, and a Level-3 biosafety laboratory.
These world-class research facilities are attracting top global scientists. Led by internationally renowned scholars such as CAS academician Yan Ning, these initiatives are driving a new research ecosystem rooted in institutions and labs that facilitate cutting-edge innovation. For instance, the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory now hosts over 100 research teams and employs more than 1,000 staff, 90% of whom are full-time. It ranks first among all provincial labs in Guangdong in terms of staffing and includes over 100 top-tier talents.
This region is not only achieving “from 0 to 1” scientific breakthroughs but also delivering sustained momentum for industry-driven technological innovation.
Leveraging the China Spallation Neutron Source in Songshan Lake Science City, Shenzhen and Dongguan have jointly built two key instruments for the Materials Genome Facility in Guangming Science City: a medium-high pressure neutron spectrometer and a high-resolution, high-throughput neutron powder diffractometer. Both are scheduled to be operational by December 2024 and will provide neutron diffraction testing services. In the initial phase, over 300 samples are expected to be tested, with services already booked by more than 30 user organizations, including BYD, CATL, Capchem, Shenzhen University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Macau, and the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
1+1＞2
Shenzhen and Dongguan embrace a third growth curve Ttogether
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the founding of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
Over the past 45 years, Shenzhen has followed three distinct growth curves: the first driven by the “three-plus-one” trade model (importing materials, processing on consignment, assembling parts, and compensation trade); the second characterized by “follow-up innovation”; and now, the third curve—powered by original, “from 0 to 1” scientific innovation—offers more sustained competitiveness and long-term growth potential.
Like Shenzhen, Dongguan also rose to prominence through the “three-plus-one” model and earned global recognition as the “world’s factory.” Today, Dongguan is forging its own new growth trajectory.
The establishment of the Science Alliance within the Pilot Zone of the Greater Bay Area Comprehensive National Science Center signifies more than just the creation of a powerful joint platform for original innovation between Shenzhen and Dongguan. It also reflects a shared commitment to developing a comprehensive industrial innovation system that promotes full-chain results transformation, aiming to achieve synergy where “1 + 1 > 2.”
Serving as a “scientific forest” for R&D innovation, a “liveable and vibrant city” for quality living, and a “shared smart valley” for industrial translation, Guangming Science City is rich in research resources and offers an excellent living environment. Meanwhile, on the other side, Songshan Lake Science City, guided by the development philosophy of “technology blending seamlessly with scenery; new city and industry rising together,” continues to generate powerful momentum for innovation-led growth.
With a land area exceeding 2,400 square kilometers, Dongguan possesses profound manufacturing heritage. As a high-end industrial cluster, Songshan Lake Science City focuses on key industries including next-generation information technology and intelligent connected vehicles, robotics and intelligent equipment manufacturing, semiconductors and integrated circuits, biomedicine and health, new materials and new energy, promoting the mutual reinforcement and dual strengthening of industry and technology.
Shenzhen possesses robust innovation capabilities. Guangming Science City has completed and opened for sharing three major scientific facilities: synthetic biology research, brain analysis and brain simulation, and materials genomics. The country’s sole National Industrial Innovation Center in the field of biomanufacturing has fully commenced construction. To meet industrial needs, Guangming Science City has introduced a group of major institutions and large research institutes including China North Industries Group Intelligent Innovation Research Institute (Shenzhen), Southern University of Science and Technology Guangming Advanced Research Institute, and Lanzhou University Shenzhen Research Institute, with 19 projects rolling forward.
Currently, Shenzhen and Dongguan are actively planning regional transportation infrastructure construction. In the future, travel from Guangming Science City to Songshan Lake Science City will take only about 10 minutes. A more integrated, vibrant, and convenient “Wei’e Mountain Perimeter” research circle, living circle, and transportation circle is highly anticipated.
As cross-city sci-tech cooperation between Shenzhen and Dongguan deepens, resource coordination and collaborative innovation strengthen, and regional scientific research services, planning coordination, and follow-up supporting measures gradually materialize, Shenzhen and Dongguan will become an “innovation community of dual-city linkage and regional coordination,” further forging an innovation engine for high-quality development in the Greater Bay Area.
