“China Optics Valley” develops future industries with an annual investment of no less than 1 billion yuan

On October 17th, the Wuhan East Lake High-Tech Development Zone, also known as “China’s Optics Valley,” held a press conference titled “Future Industrial Development in Optics Valley.” During this event, the “Implementation Plan for Promoting Future Industrial Development in East Lake High-Tech Development Zone” was officially released.

Can you tell us about the main objectives outlined in the new implementation plan?

The plan aims to establish East Lake High-Tech Zone as a national pilot zone for future industries by following a development path that includes breakthroughs in new technologies, applications in new scenarios, the emergence of new entities, and the explosion of new markets. It sets a goal of investing no less than 1 billion yuan annually, with the ambition to surpass 50 billion yuan in future industrial scale by 2027, establishing itself as a hub for future industry development with national and international significance.

What are the specific industries that the plan focuses on?

The plan identifies nine forward-looking industrial directions, categorized into three stages in what’s termed the “333” future industry framework. These stages include: the verification exploration phase, which encompasses 6G communication, quantum technology, and brain-computer interfaces; the commercial trial phase, focusing on humanoid robots, general artificial intelligence, and biomanufacturing; and the near-application stage, which includes aerospace technology, future display technologies, and advanced semiconductors.

What strategies does the plan propose to ensure successful implementation?

It outlines a comprehensive analysis of seven essential elements related to future industries, covering technology, funding, talent, and application scenarios. The plan introduces eight major actions, including initiatives to establish high-energy innovation platforms, attract high-level talent teams, and tackle high-quality technical projects, thereby aiming to create a full-process industrial ecosystem that integrates research, transformation, and acceleration.

How is the East Lake High-Tech Development Zone currently progressing with future industries?

Currently, the zone has launched a “Future Digital Technology Social Laboratory” within the Optics Valley Digital Economy Industrial Park. It has opened applications globally for 27 cutting-edge digital economy project scenarios, successfully establishing the first batch of ten application scenarios that cover critical fields such as general artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and future display technologies.

What are the next steps following the release of this plan?

Moving forward, the East Lake High-Tech Zone will leverage the launch of the plan as an opportunity to accelerate its work in cultivating future industries. It aims to explore innovative mechanisms for industry development, carve a path for the emergence of new production capacities, and set a benchmark in technology-driven industrial growth, striving to achieve significant breakthroughs and lead the future.