Qingdao Oceantec Valley, located by Aoshan Bay in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, has clustered a number of marine research institutes and talent teams, forming a marine science research ecosystem bolstering the development of marine technologies. 

An ocean drilling ship project was approved to be constructed in the valley in April 2019. The project includes the plan to build a 10,000-meter drilling and production ship with intellectual property rights and international leadership, which will propel the country’s ocean science research and deep sea resource exploration. 

Currently the valley is home to more than 20 national scientific research platforms, over 20 higher education institutions, and more than 500 technological companies, forming a marine technological innovation ecosystem featuring research and development, commercialization of scientific achivements, as well as technological trade. 

The 2019 Qingdao International Ocean Science and Technology Exhibition, which was first held in 2016 and opened on Sept 24 in the valley this year, attracted more than 500 companies, over 9,000 professional purchasers, and over 30,000 visitors. 

In recent years, the valley has carried out frequent international communications and cooperation. It has formed relationships with prestigious universities and research institutes from countries like Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. 

It hosted the Global Ocean Summit 2018, which attracted more than 150 representatives from 101 marine scientific research institutes and five international organizations from 24 countries all over the world. 

"Qingdao Oceantec Valley will focus on the development of the marine industry and turn the valley into a hub for international marine innovation," said Xiao Yanheng, director of the administration bureau of Qingdao Oceantec Valley.