Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Intelligent manufacturing as the pillar industry of Xiangzhou District is to get another boost as an annual special fund of 50 million yuan ($7.9 million) will be allocated to encourage technological industrial transformation.

The special fund has been set up to promote purchase and application of robots and intelligent equipment for Xiangzhou industrial enterprises. The tentative management methods of the fund were issued on April 18 by the local government.

According to the rules, each enterprise can be awarded up to 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) once they have purchased a set of intelligent equipment.

The government has set a goal of pouring 3.8 billion yuan ($603 million) into technological transformation this year. The program last year managed a total input of only 3.3 billion yuan ($524 million); the target has been raised for 2018. 

Xiangzhou intelligent manufacturing enterprises are inspired during a field visit to Zhuhai Gree Intelligent Equipment, the leader in the industry. [Photo by Yu Xiaoxiao / Zhuhai Daily]

The higher target was set to spur another boom in technical innovation. The past three years witnessed the robust development of Xiangzhou's intelligent manufacturing industry, led by Gree Intelligent Equipment, to 6.4 billion yuan ($1.0 billion) in total industrial output value in 2017, a sharp growth of 208 percent over that time period. The current measures are designed to give the industry yet another boost.

Enterprises in need of intelligent equipment products will benefit from a government-established communication channel putting them in touch with product makers, according to the Science, Technology, Industry, Trade and Information Technology Bureau of Xiangzhou District.

At the same time, Xiangzhou will establish a tracking management system to follow these projects and strengthen monitoring and analysis for better government service. Companies’ awareness of the latest technological reform policies will also be improved, according to an official.