Shanghai Pudong Software Park boasts 22 enterprises with an operation income exceeding 100 million yuan, and six over 1 billion yuan by the end of 2018. [Photo/pdtimes.com.cn]

Shanghai Pudong Software Park, a hub for the Chinese software industry, has emerged as a cradle for unicorn companies by virtue of its rich entrepreneurial and innovative working atmosphere and outstanding services.

Official statistics show that as of the end of last year, the park had nurtured a total of 22 enterprises with an operation income exceeding 100 million yuan ($14.91 million), and six over 1 billion yuan, indicating its growing strength in becoming an influential unicorn incubator.

The park was also awarded as one of the 10 most dynamic software parks in China in 2018, along with Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park amongst others, the second consecutive year that Pudong Software Park won the award.

Lingtek.cn, an internet-of-things company focusing on developing intelligent lighting technology landed in Pudong in 2017. Its product of street lamp can be intelligently controlled through wireless connection technology, thus reducing energy.

Last July, the company's first application project was put into use in Pudong Software Park with the local government's support.

"Our products have been widely recognized in the market thanks to the application scenario test opportunities provided by the park," said Yuan Qianlong, chief operating officer of the company, adding that their products have been put into operation in many areas in Pudong, including Shanghai Disney Resort and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

It is these unicorn companies like Lingtek that have stimulated a new wave of innovation fervor in the park.

In 2018, the total investment in scientific research in Pudong Software Park was around 16.47 billion yuan, up 30.8 percent from a year earlier. Integrated circuit industry received the most capital, according to the figures.

The growth of unicorns can also be attributed to a series of preferential policies in the park, designed to assist enterprises alleviate financial burdens they may encounter in their early operation stages.

To date, the park has 770 enterprises with more than 45,000 employees. A total of 130 companies landed in the park last year.