Dalian abounds in innovative resources; it is home to more than 30 colleges, universities and scientific research institutions and 110 important innovative platforms.

It ranked 17th among 78 innovation-oriented cities in a 2021 report on innovative capacity, which was recently released by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China.

Dalian's comprehensive scientific and technological innovation strength has increased rapidly over the past decade. Its research and development expenditure was 23.61 billion yuan in 2021, up 129.7 percent when compared with that in 2012.