Zhangjiagang held the "AI+" Innovation Development Conference on June 18, aiming to drive comprehensive industrial upgrading and accelerate its emergence as a distinctive county-level powerhouse in artificial intelligence (AI) development across China.
Zhangjiagang introduced the “AI+” Innovation Development Action Plan, accompanied by a comprehensive set of supportive industrial policies. This initiative emphasizes critical components such as data management, computing power, AI infrastructure, large scale models, strategic projects, and talent development. The city’s objective is to accelerate the deep integration of AI across all sectors of society, empowering numerous industries and reaching households throughout the region.
The event also featured the introduction of a suite of domain-specific AI foundation models, covering applications including manufacturing, scientific research, transportation, finance, and public services. Dedicated datasets for the steel industry were also presented. A total of 58 practical AI application scenarios were revealed, offering a glimpse into an intelligent future in which AI enhances professional environments and everyday life.
Several renowned experts were appointed as strategic advisors and collaborative partners in support of Zhangjiagang's "AI+" development. These experts will provide comprehensive intellectual guidance, covering aspects from technical roadmaps to ecosystem development.
Twelve key projects were signed at the conference, spanning four categories: the Zhangjiagang AI Empowerment Innovation Center, AI industry-education integration, and AI-enabled industrial applications. These initiatives form a robust innovation ecosystem from R&D to application and commercialization.
In recent years, Zhangjiagang has leveraged its strong industrial base, rich application scenarios, robust innovation capacity, and business-friendly environment to advance the "AI+" initiative. The city is now home to over 100 high-quality AI-related enterprises, 58 application demonstration cases, and 16 vertical large models, covering all layers from infrastructure to applications. Its computing power is on track to rank among the top in Suzhou.
With a focus on "AI+ manufacturing", Zhangjiagang has cultivated a number of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology-certified 5G smart factories and provincial-level intelligent manufacturing demonstration plants and workshops, charting a path toward high-quality, intelligent development.
AI has been applied across various sectors in Zhangjiagang. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]