Baotou city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region is to invest 663 million yuan ($102 million) in science and technology innovation, focusing on achieving breakthroughs in the rare earths sector and other industries, according to local media reports.

The reports said the city is pushing to develop a regional innovation center, which will be built as part of its sweeping ambitions to become the nation's technological innovation hub for rare earths and new materials, as well as to be a focal point for innovation in West China.

As a major industrial city in the autonomous region, Baotou has completed its industrial system and laid a solid foundation for manufacturers. However, the city has also encountered difficulties in attracting top-flight professionals and in creating incentives for technological advancement.

Promoting the implementation of a large number of key scientific and technological projects, as well as breaking through and solving the core technical problems in the high-quality development of the rare earths industry are important tasks for Baotou's scientific and technological innovation and development.

Baotou has developed key core technologies and cutting-edge original industrial technologies. The city has closely focused on key common technologies and modern engineering technologies in the fields of rare earths new materials, high-end equipment manufacturing, hydrogen energy and modern energy – as well as implemented a number of key technology application research and development projects.

At the same time, Baotou city is reportedly attaching great importance to the construction of high-level platform carriers and is establishing a national technology innovation center for rare earths new materials.