China adopts action plan to advance manufacturing digitalization

China has started to channel more energy into the digital transformation of its manufacturing sector to foster new quality productive forces and strengthen the economic momentum.

Cloud data center in big data industry acts as one of the backbone of industrial digitalization. (Source: Xinhua)

During a recent executive meeting, the State Council adopted an action plan aimed at advancing manufacturing digitalization, including measures to fulfill manufacturing needs across diverse scenarios, accelerate technological advancements, and enhance support ranging from setting up standards to building service platforms.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Zhu Minghao, a professor from the Beijing Jiaotong University, pointed out that digitalized manufacturing industry is crucial to the development of new quality productive forces, as the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy will create new business forms, new models and new services.

The State Council meeting also emphasized support for the digital transition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), encouraging them to upgrade their equipment and technologies. Zhu called for efforts to foster specialized tech companies capable of providing customized and cost-effective transformation solutions tailored to SMEs.

Demonstration of digitalized manufacturing in China

For three consecutive years, China has launched smart manufacturing pilot projects, building 421 national-level demonstration factories along with over 10,000 provincial-level digital workshops and smart factories.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital twins have been applied in more than 90% of the demonstration plants. 5G has been promoted on a large scale in quality inspection, mining production and other fields. The Industrial Internet now spans all major sectors, with over 200 application examples established.