The Quzhou Southeast Digital Economic Development Institute is currently settling into the Quzhou Epoch Innovation Building. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

In the first three quarters of 2020, revenue from the digital economy in Quzhou – the prefecture-level city in East China's Zhejiang province -- reached 17.2 billion yuan ($2.6 billion), according to local officials.

They said that figure represented year-on-year growth of 21.9 percent, exceeding the provincial average level by 10.5 percentage points and maintaining the fastest growth rate in Zhejiang.

The Quzhou Southeast Digital Economic Development Institute recently joined the list of the 2020 provincial new research and development bodies in Zhejiang, becoming an important part of the province's innovation system, according to local officials.

They said the body plays a lead role in pioneering the digital economic development of Quzhou. It strives to recruit top people, introduces key technologies and undertakes a number of major projects.

Officials said that just two years after its establishment, the institute has recruited 189 leading professionals, established seven R&D centers and 10 R&D branches, which have yielded 17 scientific research achievements and the implementation of 41 projects.

"Quzhou really offers a lot to digital industry talent," said Niu Shaozhang, an expert on 5G communications, responsible for the construction of the mobile big data R&D center at the Quzhou Southeast Digital Economic Development Institute.