On December 22, 2016, the kick-off meeting for the High-Tech Ship Research and Development Program and Special Projects of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) was held in Beijing. Over 70 attendees, including leaders from the MIIT's Equipment Industry Department, the Finance Ministry's National Defense Department, the MIIT's Industrial Promotion and Development Center, the Shandong Provincial Office of National Defense Industry, the Science and Technology Departments of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), as well as representatives from the entities undertaking the special projects and sub-projects, participated in the meeting. It was reported that the MIIT's High-Tech Ship Research and Development Program and Special Projects target significant, core, and critical technological issues in the industry's development process. They integrate technological innovation with research and development model innovation, strengthen both horizontal and vertical collaborative innovation, and drive the leapfrog development of industrial technology through major scientific and technological special projects and programs. In 2016, the MIIT launched five major programs and special projects. CSSC undertook two of these special projects: the "Marine Low-Speed Engine Program (Phase I)" led by CSSC Power Research Institute Co., Ltd., and the "20,000 TEU and Above Ultra-Large Container Ship" special project led by the 708th Research Institute of CSSC. These two special projects accounted for 74% of the total investment in the five special projects.

Among the five special projects, the "Marine Low-Speed Engine Program (Phase I)" underwent two years of deliberation and received approval from the main leaders of the State Council for its establishment. It represents the largest civilian scientific research project in the history of the shipbuilding industry. This special project has united the strengths of 42 domestic leading enterprises, institutes, and universities, aiming to drive the independent research and development of key components and energy-saving devices, achieve breakthroughs in fundamental key technologies, introduce a series of market-oriented independent marine low-speed engine products, establish an innovative development technology system for marine low-speed engines, and foster China's research and development capabilities and innovation system in this field by 2020. The implementation of this special project will strongly promote the leapfrog development of China's ship propulsion systems. The "20,000 TEU and Above Ultra-Large Container Ship" special project aims to achieve, by 2018, design leadership and efficient mass production capabilities for ultra-large container ships of 20,000 TEU and above, building on China's existing capacity to design and construct 10,000 TEU container ships in batches. It also seeks to drive the localization of key supporting equipment such as lashing systems, dual-fuel fuel systems, and waste heat boilers.

This year, CSSC held its First Scientific and Technological Innovation Conference, clarifying its "13th Five-Year Plan" for scientific and technological innovation in civilian products. Undertaking the MIIT's High-Tech Ship Research and Development Program and Special Projects aligns with CSSC's strategic positioning as an innovative group, fulfilling national strategies, meeting significant societal needs, and embodying the responsibilities of a central enterprise. During the implementation of these special projects, CSSC will remain true to its original aspirations, closely collaborate, and, with a sense of responsibility to the nation, deliver technologically advanced research outcomes and introduce high-quality products that meet market demands. This will drive innovative development in the design and manufacturing of marine low-speed engines and ultra-large container ships, supporting the implementation of the national "Made in China 2025" strategy.