The third Annual Meeting of China's Independent Innovation opened at the Great Hall of the People on April 18. The meeting listed the top 10 domestic innovative cities, enterprises and figures. Qingdao and Zhou Houjian, chairman of Hisense Group, a local enterprise in Qingdao, were included on the lists as an innovative city and innovative figure, respectively.

The meeting’s evaluation system was formulated by Economic Daily -- the sponsor of the meeting -- the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Tsinghua University. Based on deep investigation and extensive data collection, the system can store rich information for a comprehensive, innovative and efficient evaluation.

Qingdao was awarded for the ever-growing influence exerted by its local enterprises at home and abroad. Qingdao is a city of oceanic charm. Jiaolong, a manned submersible berthed in Qingdao, has explored uncharted waters in the deep sea. As oceanic competence remains the calling of the time, Qingdao has attracted intensively innovative resources to realize its dream of becoming a "Blue Silicon Valley."

Edited by Michael Thai, Li Xiaoliang and Gao Yuan