National natural Science Foundation of China invests in Inner Mongolia county

The National Natural Science Foundation of China began a targeted assistance program for Naiman Banner in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2003.

The foundation provided comprehensive support including talent, technology, funding, and projects to help the county overcome ecological degradation and poverty. By 2025, the foundation completed its efforts to link poverty alleviation results with rural revitalization. The foundation invested 43 million yuan and supported over 130 special projects to improve infrastructure and agricultural production.

Between 2003 and 2012, officials and experts helped build 86 mechanical wells, added 3,250 mu of irrigated land, and established a 11,000 square meter training center. Starting in 2013, the foundation introduced a review system to fund poverty alleviation projects using the same rigorous processes as basic research projects. This allowed researchers from universities and institutes to move into fields and mining areas to solve local problems. Technological interventions led to measurable economic gains in agriculture and mining.

Research supported by the foundation helped Naiman Banner switch from traditional sparse planting to water-saving methods for maize. In 2025, these new techniques increased grain production by 215 million kilograms and generated over 450 million yuan in additional income. Additionally, researchers identified an 800 square kilometer area of high-quality mineral water, supporting the development of a natural alkali industrial cluster with a planned investment of over 26 billion yuan. The foundation also focused on human capital and long-term scientific observation.

It sent 50 officials to serve in the county and established research stations to monitor desertification. These efforts helped restore 5.87 million mu of desertified land, raising the forest coverage rate to 30.81 percent. The foundation also coordinated training for local teachers and organized medical cooperation with hospitals to provide healthcare services to rural residents.