Hunan accelerated its integration into the global innovation network in 2025, yielding a series of landmark collaborative achievements including hybrid rice. According to the Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province on January 27, the province's scientific research cooperation network has expanded to over 130 countries and regions.

Hunan's hybrid rice has been cultivated across more than 70 countries worldwide, covering over 8 million hectares, with successful trials in multiple African nations. Madagascar has achieved commercial production of hybrid rice, yielding an average increase of 3.5 tonnes per hectare.

Hunan has established a 6kW off-grid photovoltaic demonstration system in Sohag, Egypt, effectively alleviating local challenges in water access and electricity supply while providing a practical model for regional energy security. Meanwhile, Hunan is collaborating with Germany's Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to develop sustainable, cost-effective resin systems, which will significantly reduce the recycling costs of wind turbine blades and support industries including automotive components, locomotives, and low-altitude aircraft.

Regarding high-level international cooperation platforms, Hunan has achieved remarkable results in establishing provincial-level international science and technology innovation cooperation bases. To date, the province has signed cooperation agreements with over 100 overseas institutions, filed more than 2,100 patent applications, and generated a series of major achievements that can be commercialized. The province has accelerated the implementation of international advanced technologies through technology transfer, equipment introduction and other methods, deepening the integration of science and technology with industries.

To expand its scientific research network, Hunan established official partnerships with globally renowned institutions including the UK's RELX Group and the Nordic Sustainable Development Association. Furthermore, the province has pooled global intellectual resources by inviting representatives from the Royal Academy of Engineering to Hunan and appointing Cambridge University experts as visiting professors at Hunan University.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Chinanews