Tianjin now boasts 161 independent scientific research institutes. Nearly 80% of the state-run large and medium sized enterprises have their own R&D functions. Over 3000 private research institutes are now operating. Tianjin's over 20 universities and colleges such as Tianjin University and Nankai University house some of the country's most important and advanced scientific research bases, including 6 state-class laboratories, 27 technical evaluation centers and 21 scientific and technological information centers. The city's newly built Science and Technology Hall, Natural Museum and Teenagers Scientific and Technological Activities Center all provide excellent opportunities for people to develop their interest in general science. The city government has been increasing its budgets on projects of research and development in the past few years. Hundreds of high-tech projects designed to boost the growth of high-tech industries have been implemented. A telling evidence of that is the birth of the state-class area of new technologies and industries. Now, the project of turning Tianjin into an "information port" has been already initiated.
Tianjin has over 600,000 professionals in all disciplines, including over 300,000 natural scientists and 170,000 academicians of China Academy of Sciences and China Academy of Engineering.