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A Martin Jetpack, the world's first practical and commercial jetpack, which is developed by KuangChiScience, an innovative high-tech startup in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.[Provided to China Daily]
Shenzhen, the innovative city in southern China's Guangdong province, has received resultsfrom its enormous investment in some of the most cutting-edge technologies in the world.
KuangChi Science Ltd, an innovative high-tech startup in the city, has received 200 orders forits Martin Jetpack, the world's first practical and commercial jetpack, at the price of 2 millionyuan ($308,640) each.
"Our buyers are from all over the world," said Zhang Yangyang, CEO of the company. "Forexample, a rescue team in Dubai ordered about 30 units because the jetpack is easier tooperate than helicopters in a city full of skyscrapers."
The jetpack is powered by a gasoline engine driving twin ducted fans, which producesufficient thrust to lift the aircraft and a pilot, and to enable sustained flight. It can operateclose to or between buildings, near trees and in confined spaces that other aircraft are unableto access.
The jetpack can carry commercial payloads of up to 120 kilograms with a maximum flyingtime of 45 minutes at a speed of up to 80 km per hour.
The innovative aircraft is mainly produced in New Zealand, but Zhang told China Daily theywill transfer the entire manufacturing process to China in the future.
The startup was established by five students who came back to China after studying abroad,said Zhang.
"In the beginning, almost everyone was very skeptical of the concept of the personal jetpack,"Zhang said.
"It was Shenzhen's recognition that makes our technological development and researchpossible," Zhang added.
The team was brought into Shenzhen through "peacock campaign", a plan the ShenzhenScience and Technology Innovation Commission launched to attract tech talent.
The plan has played a key role in gearing up the city to develop into a key zone for innovationand the development of modern services in the region.
Since 2011, the commission has lured 64 "peacock" teams to the city, most of which havenow grown into striking high-tech enterprises such as DJI Innovation Technology Co,KuangChi, Royole and BGI. These teams received government's financial support of tens ofmillions yuan each.
In addition, the plan is only one of the investments the city has made in promoting innovativeand emerging industries. The city's R&D investment accounted for 4 percent of its GDP lastyear, which is about the same as of South Korea.
Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin said the investment was important for the city's long-term economicdevelopment.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/tech/2016-04/27/content_24877981.htm
