The Development and Reform Commission of Anhui province recently proposed a list of provincial future-oriented industry pilot zones in 2024, designating the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone as the platform for the construction of three such zones.

To build a global quantum hub

Anhui is known as China's quantum hub, with Hefei serving as its center, and the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone positioned as the city's key player in the quantum sector. Currently, the zone is home to over 60 enterprises in the quantum industrial chain, including more than 30 core quantum companies. In the first half of this year, these enterprises generated nearly 2 billion yuan ($281.14 million) in revenue, establishing a solid foundation for the development of a quantum technology future-oriented industry pilot zone.

The CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The zone aims to establish itself as a global powerhouse for both quantum science and quantum industry, focusing on the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation. The zone will concentrate on four key areas: quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum precision measurement, and quantum materials, devices, and equipment. It plans to implement seven major projects that encompass sci-tech research, achievement commercialization, enterprise incubation, talent development, integrated development, spatial optimization, and institutional innovation. The zone will create a future-oriented industrial chain that links innovation, commercialization, incubation, and industrial agglomeration, bolstering the establishment of a global quantum science hub.

By 2027, the zone aims to build the quantum technology future-oriented industry pilot zone, develop influential frontier technologies, innovative applications, flagship enterprises, and leading talent, while forming a comprehensive technological innovation system for the sector.

To develop world-leading AI industry

The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone boasts strengths in the general artificial intelligence (AI) sector, having established a comprehensive 1+N+X model and product system. This encompasses a complete AI industry chain that includes core technology research and development, large models, foundational platforms, IoT, big data, intelligent hardware, and information technology services. The zone also operates several computing power platforms, including the Hefei Advanced Computing Center, China Telecom Anhui Intelligent Computing Center, and Hefei City Cloud Data Center. With the recent completion of the Hefei 3000-PetaFLOPS general AI computing power cluster project and the launch of the construction of an ultra-scale fusion computing center, the zone now boasts smart computing capabilities exceeding 5,000 petaflops, laying a strong groundwork for the provincial future-oriented industry pilot zone in general AI.

The Hefei Advanced Computing Center. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

By 2027, the pilot zone is expected to elevate Hefei's general AI industry to a national-leading level, and become a hub for sci-tech innovation, solution outputs, industrial agglomeration, and data security. It aspires to emerge as an internationally recognized leader in the general AI innovation sector.

The zone will harness the construction project of future-oriented industry pilot zones to promote technological revolution and industrial transformation, thereby serving as a major support for the economic growth of Anhui province.