National Directive: A Regional Industry Reshuffle Has Begun

Who is Accelerating Breakthroughs in the Six Major Future Industries?

On March 20th, Suzhou, known as the “Strongest Prefecture-Level City,” announced at the Suzhou Business Conference the top ten emerging industries and ten key future industries to focus on in the next phase, signaling a clear move to concentrate strengths and open new competitive tracks.

Recently, the national “14th Five-Year Plan” explicitly emphasized targeting key areas leading future development, building a full-chain cultivation system for future industries, and promoting quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy and nuclear fusion, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, sixth-generation mobile communication, among others, as new drivers of economic growth.

Since the term “future industries” was first proposed in 2024, government work reports have continued to highlight and deploy related strategies for three consecutive years. The latest expression, “building a full-chain cultivation system for future industries,” indicates that these disruptive industries are entering a new stage of development.

As Zheng Ganjie, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, stated, these industries are on the brink of technological breakthroughs; today’s future industries could become tomorrow’s new pillars of the economy.

Opportunities are unprecedented. For local regions, whether they can quickly identify their position and gain a competitive advantage in the new round of industry competition determines their future fate. Who is accelerating breakthroughs in the six major future industry sectors?

01

“Blooming Everywhere” Type

Representative Industry: Embodied Intelligence

Among the six key future industries prioritized nationally, embodied intelligence is undoubtedly the hottest track right now. According to incomplete statistics, at least 21 provinces across China explicitly mentioned “embodied intelligence” or “robots” in their 2026 government work reports, making it a fiercely contested industry field.

Meanwhile, all 31 provinces have deployed related fields such as artificial intelligence and intelligent economy, aiming to seize opportunities in the new competition.

This “blooming everywhere” pattern reflects the unique attributes of the embodied intelligence industry: long supply chains, diverse technological routes, and broad application scenarios. The multi-path exploration around embodied intelligence is accelerating.

2025 is dubbed the “mass production year” for humanoid robots by industry insiders. According to the latest report from the global tech research firm Omdia, Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers lead worldwide; in 2025, the top six global shipments are all from China, with Shanghai-based Zhiyuan and Fourier entering the top ten globally.

Industry experts believe Shanghai is the “easiest and fastest city” in China for mass production of embodied intelligence.

It is estimated that core components for humanoid robots, as well as unseen data and control algorithms, can be fully supplied within a 150 km radius centered on Shanghai. The leading hardware supply chain in the Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai’s long-standing AI industry foundation, and talent advantages are collectively accelerating the mass production of “Shanghai plates” embodied intelligence.

Building on this, Shanghai has further proposed to implement the “AI+” initiative, strengthening infrastructure for computing power, industry-specific datasets, and vertical models, promoting widespread application of new intelligent terminals and agents. Nationwide, embodied intelligence is entering a critical stage from technological validation to commercialization—when the robot’s flexibility reaches practical levels, the next competition is about who can do the “work” more effectively.

At the Guangdong “First Spring Conference” this year, Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee Huang Kunming emphasized the need to “put embodied intelligence into use,” sending a clear signal. Prior to that, the “Guangdong Province AI Empowering High-Quality Manufacturing Development Action Plan (2025–2027)” explicitly called for accelerating the creation of a globally influential demonstration zone for the integration of “AI + manufacturing.”

It’s evident that as a major manufacturing province, Guangdong focuses on application demonstration and promotion—its manufacturing sector accounts for about one-eighth of the national total, with all 31 manufacturing categories and ten trillion-yuan-level industry clusters like new electronic information, providing a rich “testing ground.”

From the government work report, while many regions are still in the “layout” and “cultivation” stages regarding embodied intelligence, some provinces like Guangdong have already targeted more specific tracks. For example, Guangdong aims to “accelerate high-level application of AI across all domains and industries,” cultivating large models for vertical fields and scene-specific small models, and speeding up the construction of embodied intelligence training platforms.

Additionally, Shandong’s government work report proposed “building embodied intelligence robot training systems,” while Zhejiang explicitly supports the creation of national AI pilot bases for embodied intelligence.

Beijing is shifting focus to scene openness. According to the recently issued “Action Plan for Technological Innovation and Industry Cultivation of Embodied Intelligence (2025–2027),” application scenarios such as scientific research, education, automotive manufacturing, and retail will be opened in phases, prioritizing the deployment of ten thousand embodied robots and cultivating a trillion-yuan industry cluster. It also explores applications in elderly care and household services.

02

Feature Breakthrough Type

Representative Industries: Biomanufacturing, Hydrogen Energy

It must be pointed out that future industries have long incubation cycles, high risks, and strong uncertainties, requiring tailored and rational deployment based on local conditions.

From another perspective, future industries are not exclusive to major economic provinces; other regions can also leverage their industrial endowments to achieve distinctive breakthroughs.

For example, Heilongjiang, with abundant agricultural raw materials, has become an important hub in China’s biomanufacturing sector. In 2024, the Suiha Daqi biomanufacturing cluster officially joined the “national team,” becoming the only national-level advanced manufacturing cluster in biomanufacturing.

Data shows that during the “14th Five-Year Plan,” Heilongjiang’s key biomanufacturing enterprises grew from fewer than 80 to 194, with output value exceeding 100 billion yuan and an average annual growth rate over 10%. The Heilongjiang provincial government’s work report this year plans to accelerate bioeconomy development, launching a new round of the “Double Hundred Project” for bioeconomy, with key industries continuing to grow revenue by over 10%.

Similarly, in biomanufacturing, provinces like Chongqing, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia are also actively deploying. Chongqing’s government report proposed “establishing Chongqing Biomanufacturing Research Institute and supporting the development of the Chongqing International Bio-City innovation ecosystem”; Yunnan aims to “cultivate biomanufacturing industrial parks,” and Hainan highlighted “marine biomanufacturing.”

Another promising future industry based on regional resources is hydrogen energy.

As early as the “14th Five-Year Plan,” hydrogen energy was included in the forward-looking planning of future industries. Statistics show that at least 23 provinces explicitly mentioned this industry in their 2026 government work reports, and over 20 provinces have outlined medium- and long-term plans for hydrogen energy over the next 5 to 10 years.

Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen cannot be directly extracted but must be produced from water or fossil fuels, making resource endowment crucial for industry deployment.

Among many provinces, Jilin has the most detailed mention in its government work report this year.

It states that by 2025, key projects such as Zhongneng Jilin’s “Green Power Hydrogen and Ammonia” will be completed and put into operation, with the country’s leading total capacity; Changchun, Songyuan, and Baicheng have been selected as the first batch of hydrogen energy pilot zones; and the nation’s first hydrogen-powered cultural tourism train has been successfully operated.

Recently, Jilin Party Secretary Huang Qiang personally experienced a hydrogen-powered train during a survey, expressing the desire to “let hydrogen-powered city trains run across Jilin.”

As one of China’s nine major wind and solar power bases with over 10 million kilowatts capacity, Jilin boasts abundant green energy resources; its old industrial base also provides a foundation for full industry chain development: FAW, CRRC Changchun, and other companies are deeply involved in hydrogen equipment manufacturing, and the province’s dense chemical industry clusters naturally create a market for green hydrogen. These advantages bolster Jilin’s confidence in aiming for the “Northern Hydrogen Valley.”

Notably, on March 16th, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other departments jointly issued the “Notice on Conducting Pilot Projects for Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications,” opening broader space for industry development. Experts interpret this as a major highlight—creating a “new track” for hydrogen energy industry development, expanding from previous applications mainly in fuel cell vehicles to broader industrial sectors like steel, chemicals, and shipping, marking a transition from “single transportation demonstration” to “full-scenario, large-scale commercialized development.”

Some provinces have already made deployment. For example, Inner Mongolia’s government report specifically mentions “strengthening the coupling of green hydrogen with metallurgy, chemicals, and synthetic biology industries”; Gansu focuses on hydrogen equipment projects and proposes establishing flagship application scenarios.

03

Leading and Pioneering Type

Representative Industries: Quantum Technology, Nuclear Fusion, 6G, Brain-Computer Interfaces

In contrast, industries like quantum technology, nuclear fusion, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G, due to their extremely high technical barriers and talent requirements, are currently limited to a few “leading players.”

In quantum technology, Anhui is a clear leader. The “2024 Global Future Industry Development Index Report” shows that Hefei’s quantum industry ranks second globally, only behind San Francisco. Among the top 20 quantum companies worldwide, four are from China, three of which are from Anhui. By the end of 2025, Anhui’s quantum industry chain has surpassed 100 enterprises, ranking first nationwide.

Currently, the global quantum industry is entering a “sprint” phase. According to Anhui’s latest deployment, by 2026, they plan to build quantum computing R&D platforms and implement the “Thousand-Scene” quantum information initiative to accelerate application transformation.

In the nuclear fusion field, only Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan explicitly list it as a key development direction in their 2026 government work reports.

This correlates with the core innovation resources of these regions: Anhui relies on the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Sichuan has a strong nuclear industry foundation and the Southwest Institute of Physics for Nuclear Technology; Hubei benefits from Huazhong University of Science and Technology’s J-TEXT device and top academic disciplines.

Additionally, Shanghai, known as the “Cradle of China’s Nuclear Power Industry,” continues to invest through capital. The Shanghai Future Industry Fund has invested in companies like Xinghuan Energy, Dongsheng Fusion, Yixi Technology, and China Fusion Energy, forming a relatively complete and diverse nuclear fusion industry chain.

The 6G industry also shows significant clustering effects. According to the 2026 government work report, only Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu explicitly mention 6G, all achieving notable results: Beijing’s small-scale 6G experimental network was built first; Shanghai has formulated a 6G future industry cultivation plan; Jiangsu successfully established the world’s first 6G outdoor trial network.

Looking ahead to the “14th Five-Year Plan,” provinces like Guangdong, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan, and Heilongjiang have also signaled their deployment intentions, with regional competition in the 6G track continuing to expand.

In the brain-computer interface sector, key companies are mainly clustered in the Yangtze River Delta, including Borui Kang, Brain虎科技, Shen Nian Technology, and QiangNao Technology; other regions like Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Sichuan also gather a number of related enterprises supported by strong scientific research capabilities.

More provinces are eager to participate: Chongqing, Shandong, Shanxi, Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, Hainan, among others, have announced plans for brain-computer interfaces in 2026, aiming to secure a position in this emerging track. The industry race that could reshape regional patterns has only just begun.

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Reporter | Cheng Xiaoling, Liu Xuqiang

Editors | Duan Lian, Liu Yanmei, Yi Qijiang

Proofreader | Zhang Yiming

| Daily Economic News nbdnews Original Article |

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