The finals of the 1st Hefei Application Scenario Innovation Competition were held on Jan 24 in the core area of the Grand Union of Innovation, or GUI – a tech innovation service hub based in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province.

The competition focused on six areas – including smart manufacturing, urban governance and technology benefiting people – attracting the participation of nearly 200 companies. In all, 19 companies made it through to the finals.

Scenario innovation is a type of innovation that involves analyzing existing products, services, or solutions. It identifies user needs, transforming those needs into innovative scenarios – thereby redefining the pattern and form of the products or services – so driving the growth and upgrading of products or services.

Scenario innovation may discover new demands in new scenarios or construct new scenarios within existing demands. This approach aims to promote consumption and drive high-quality economic development.

Hefei began planning scenario innovation work in 2021 and officially launched the initiative in 2022.

Under the auspices of the Hefei Development and Reform Commission, specialist company Hefei Scenario Application Innovation Promotion Center Co Ltd – jointly funded by six units including Grand Union of Innovation Service Platform Co Ltd and the Hefei Gaoxin Group – is a key player in this field of endeavor.

Based in Hefei high-tech zone, it's the first city-level scenario innovation company in China established to explore effective paths for urban scenario innovation.

Since its establishment, the company has been committed to serving the development of the sci-tech innovation system in Hefei, as well as the exploration and release of scenario applications across the entire city.

Focusing on technological innovation, industrial development and urban construction, the company matches products with scenarios and vice versa – facilitating the demonstration and promotion of new technology and product applications.

To date, Hefei's scenario innovation work has served thousands of companies. By establishing platforms for product and scenario integration, it's said to have helped over 110 companies to implement scenario applications, achieving significant results in scenario innovation.

Moving forwards, plans are for Hefei to continue to focus on enterprise production, urban construction and management, as well as social services.

The aim is to foster the cultivation of scenario innovation ecosystems – around key industries, areas and projects – in order to promote the integration and development of more innovative resources.