BEIJING, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- China aims to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an international innovation and technology hub, says a development plan issued on Monday.

According to the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, efforts will be made to build an open community for coordinated innovation in the region, develop quality innovation and technology carriers and platforms, and enhance the environment for innovation in the region.

In these regards, the plan calls for measures to strengthen cooperation in innovation and technology, enhance building of basic innovation capacity, enhance the in-depth integration of industries, academia and research, as well as deepen reform of innovation systems and mechanisms in the region, promote the commercial application of technological achievements, and step up the protection and exploitation of IP.

The plan requires measures to implement the innovation-driven development strategy in great intensity, deepen innovation cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and build an open community for coordinated innovation in the region that encompasses integrated development.

It also requires efforts to pool together international innovation resources, optimize the innovation system and policy environment, focus on enhancing the capability for the commercial application of technological achievements, and develop a focused area of global technological innovation and a major source of emerging industries.

The plan, an important outline document guiding the current and future cooperation and development of the Greater Bay Area, covers the period from now to 2022 in the immediate term and extends to 2035 in the long term.