GEOVIS, an aerospace company in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, was listed on the Beijing Stock Exchange on Jan. 2. The company became the first firm to go public on China's A-share market in 2025 and also the first commercial aerospace stock listed on the bourse.

The listing was part of a broader growth trend in Hefei's commercial aerospace sector, with companies like GEOVIS and AIRSAT contributing to the rapid development of the pilot zone in the commercial aerospace industry. Key infrastructure projects, including the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory and Hefei Innovation Industrial Park, are accelerating the zone's growth.

AIRSAT in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

As a pilot project of future-oriented industrial zone on commercial aerospace, the zone is focusing on three core areas, including satellite manufacturing, constellation operations, and satellite applications. To support these sectors, the zone is pursuing five strategic initiatives, encompassing technological innovation, enterprise development, open application scenarios, resource support, and ecosystem optimization. These efforts aim to strengthen the manufacturing and operational capabilities within the zone.

The zone is also working to expand its aerospace industry capacity through the development of new platforms. The first phase of the western section of the Hefei Innovation Industrial Park, with an investment of approximately 2.2 billion yuan ($301.84 million), is under construction. It is expected to be completed by 2027 and will focus on building an integrated aerospace industry chain platform, covering satellite manufacturing, satellite launch operations, and data applications. The park also aims to provide integrated services for R&D, office space, production testing, and assembly for enterprises in the region.

The Hefei headquarter of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

Additionally, the recently established Hefei headquarters of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory will provide critical scientific research support. The zone plans to leverage the laboratory's expertise to strengthen the deep space industry chain and accelerate industrial clustering in the area.

By 2027, the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone aims to become a global leader in commercial aerospace, with a competitive international presence and a national-level industry cluster. The zone is also expected to become a destination for talent in the commercial aerospace sector within the Yangtze River Delta and establish itself as a national model of aerospace development.