Focusing on Three Project Types Including AI Empowerment: Applications Now Open for the 2025 Municipal-Level Future Factories Initiative

Accelerating the creation of "Future Factories" will be a key priority for the municipality through strengthened synergy among the "four aspects" and deeper integration of the "four chains." On December 8, the Chongqing Economic and Information Commission announced the launch of the application process for the 2025 cohort of municipal-level Future Factory projects. The initiative will center on three distinct application models: AI-Empowered Demonstration, Symbiotic Chain Leader, and Ecological Innovation Pioneer. 

Officials from the Commission explained the focus of each model. The AI-Empowered Demonstration model aims to expedite the in-depth application of artificial intelligence and other information technologies across all enterprise segments - from R&D, production, and supply to marketing and services - as well as in safety and environmental management, fostering innovative AI application scenarios. The Symbiotic Chain Leader model seeks to leverage industrial and supply chain collaboration platforms by opening digital system interfaces. This will facilitate the integration of upstream and downstream enterprises within the chain, enabling coordinated, standardized digital transformation. The goal is to establish a digital supply chain characterized by interconnected data, credible information exchange, and flexible resource allocation. Finally, the Ecological Innovation Pioneer model relies on industry-specific "industrial brains" and third-party industrial internet platforms. It focuses on consolidating and exporting digital transformation capabilities and solutions, aggregating ecological data and resources from industrial clusters. This approach is designed to cultivate new business models such as made-to-order production, shared manufacturing, direct user-to-manufacturer connections, and centralized procurement and distribution.

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria: they must be enterprises conducting production and operational activities within our municipality, possess sound financial management institutions and systems; their industrial projects must align with national and municipal development plans and policies, and be already completed and operational; the total investment in the project since January 1, 2024, should be no less than RMB20 million; the enterprise must have undergone a municipal intelligent manufacturing capability maturity assessment with a rating at level three or higher; and the project must have previously earned at least one title, such as a National Excellent Smart Factory, a Municipal Advanced Smart Factory, an Innovation Demonstration Factory, or a 5G Factory.

"Following the 'Industrial Brain + Future Factory' cultivation model, our municipality initiated its first selection round in April this year, naming the inaugural batch of 10 municipal-level Future Factories for 2024," stated an official from the Chongqing Economic and Information Commission. This initial cohort includes the Changan Automobile AI Digital Intelligence Factory, the Seres Super AI Automotive Factory, the Huafon Chemical Adipic Acid Manufacturing Plant, the Midea Broad General Air Conditioning and Water Unit Manufacturing Facility, among others. These factories represent both traditional and emerging industries and constitute vital components of our municipality's "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system, demonstrating distinctive digital and intelligent development characteristics.

Looking ahead, the municipal government will accelerate the development of a digital economic system centered on the "Industrial Brain + Future Factory" paradigm. We aim to establish over 20 industry-specific brains and more than 20 Future Factories by 2027, fostering a synergistic relationship where they resonate and mutually reinforce each other. This concerted effort is designed to elevate the intelligent manufacturing capabilities of our municipality's manufacturing sector.

Source: Chongqing Daily