Zhoushan charts a new course for marine innovation

Coastal scenery of Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Located in East China's Zhejiang province, Zhoushan is leveraging its unique island advantages and technological innovation to transform its traditional marine economy. 

As China's first national-level new area dedicated to the marine economy, Zhoushan has cultivated a strong industrial foundation built on its abundant marine resources. The city's marine economy accounts for about 70 percent of its GDP, ranking it among the highest of China's coastal cities.

From a distant-water fishing hub to a cluster of specialized and innovative enterprises, Zhoushan is accelerating the transformation of its marine economy. It started out with a resource-based development mode but has since moved toward a technology-driven marine economy. Building on its well established marine economy, Zhoushan is exploring new opportunities across the broader marine sector.

One example of this transformation is Zhejiang Casnovo Materials Co Ltd which is turning marine resources into solutions for the new energy industry.

At the company's exhibition hall in Putuo district, Zhoushan, a transparent water-based binder for lithium-ion batteries stands out. Chitosan, the key ingredient in the battery binder, is derived from shrimp and crab shells. Historically, these common marine byproducts often went to waste, but they are now being transformed into valuable materials for the renewable energy sector.

"By optimizing the structure and performance of marine polysaccharides, we have developed a new type of binder with stronger adhesion and lower dosage requirements, helping improve battery energy density and reduce production costs," said Zhou Changji, assistant to the chairman of Casnovo Materials.

The company's products are made from marine-based materials and have provided greener alternatives for the battery industry. They have also reduced reliance on overseas supply and imported products. "Zhoushan's strong support for technological innovation and the company's focus on polymer materials were important reasons why I chose to join this team," said Huang Zhixian, a Malaysian researcher and deputy director of the R&D department at the company. He has introduced AI-assisted approaches to accelerate the development of new materials.

While marine resources are being transformed into new materials, innovation is also reshaping Zhoushan's maritime industries.

Zhejiang WhaleKing Capacity Co Ltd has developed a hundred-ton-class unmanned vessel integrating advanced hull design, intelligent power systems, autonomous navigation and smart control technologies.

The company's unmanned vessel project "6081" completed its first autonomous sea voyage in Zhoushan in 2022. In April 2026, the vessel completed a 2,271-nautical-mile autonomous round trip between Zhoushan and Sanya, with autonomous navigation accounting for 96.57 percent of the journey. 

The voyage, which involved challenging sea conditions, set a new record for China's unmanned vessel operations and demonstrated the potential of intelligent technologies in maritime applications.

"Compared with traditional ships, unmanned vessels can reduce the physical and mental burden on crews, especially during long-distance and challenging sea-condition operations," said Sun Qiyu, manager of the company’s comprehensive department.