Industrial giant Haier develops IoT in Wuxi

A ground-breaking ceremony for the Haier (Wuxi) Internet of Things Eco-Network Demonstration Base is held in Wuxi National Hi-tech district on Sept 10. [Photo/wnd.gov.cn]

A ground-breaking ceremony for the Haier (Wuxi) Internet of Things Eco-Network Demonstration Base was held in Wuxi National Hi-tech district on Sept 10.

The new facility will focus on the upgrade of manufacturing that uses IoT technologies, especially the clothing industry which is one of the city's traditional strengths.

With a total investment of 5 billion yuan ($708 million), it will be used to develop Haier's self-developed industrial network platform, COSMOPlat, a smart households and 5G communications industrial institute.

Wuxi National Hi-tech District Director Feng Xiaochun speaks on the ceremony. [Photo/wnd.gov.cn]

Wuxi National Hi-tech district director Feng Xiaochun said the area, which is playing a leading role in the country's IoT development, is already home to over 1,200 IoT companies. In 2018, the output value of the IoT industry in WND topped 160 billion yuan ($22.34 billion), accounting for more than 60 percent of the city of Wuxi's total.

Feng said he expected the new center would promote IoT development in WND and help with the transformation and upgrading of the traditional manufacturing industry in Wuxi.

Li Yang, vice president of Haier Smart Home Eco-platform, said Chinese home appliance giant Haier Group aims to build a new industrial ecosystem to better serve businesses and industries in Wuxi.