North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has subsidized 27 R&D projects from the city of Baotou to promote scientific innovation, Baotou Evening News reported on Aug 17.

The projects received a combined 16.5 million yuan ($2.54 million) subsidy after making a recent regional list of R&D programs.

The funded projects are designed to explore technological breakthroughs in local key industries such as rare earth, steel and copper.

One of the beneficiaries is the Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earth, who plans to tackle fuel cell technologies with rare-earth-based hydrogen storage materials.

Another notable name is the Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union, who is devoted to the study of new steel alloys used on bridges. With the addition of rare earth elements, the steel is said to have a higher corrosion resistance and strength.

Also on the list is Huading Copper, a company now concentrating on metal recycling technologies and the harmless disposal of arsenic-containing residue.

The subsidies are expected to boost the R&D of common and key technologies, and accelerate the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, the newspaper said.