In the workshop of Shandong SIASUN Industrial Software Research Institute Co., Ltd., a high-
tech enterprise in Jinan city, east China’s Shandong province, various kinds of robots work in an
orderly manner, among which some can flexibly rotate their arms, accurately grab components
and then put them on lathe with their human finger-like pliers.
The company, based in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Building in Jinan Innovation Zone, has
developed a smart system that can realize overall control of robots and automated production
lines, thus improving the production efficiency and level of intelligentization of the workshop,
according to Qi Tiancheng, deputy head of the major project and strategic development
department of the company, which specializes in the development of smart manufacturing-related
basic software and key components.
Shandong SIASUN Industrial Software Research Institute Co., Ltd. is not the only high-tech
company operating from office in the AI Building.
In recent years, Jinan city has won approval for building a national pioneer zone for the innovation
and application of AI and a national pilot zone for new-generation AI innovation and
development.
At present, the city is making efforts to build an “AI island” to stimulate the construction of the
two zones.
“AI Building is the core of the main area of the ‘AI island’. It attracts and gathers top AI
companies for comprehensive deployment of cutting-edge AI applications,” said Peng Shaoyi,
head of the industrial development department of the development center of Qilu Softpark, an
important industrial park in Jinan Innovation Zone.
Qilu Softpark serves as a demonstration zone of the “AI island”, according to Peng, who disclosed
that the city will build AI experience hall and AI application demonstration facilities in the
industrial park, including financial service facility and business districts empowered by smart
technologies.
The “AI island” will also cover Qilu sci-tech innovation corridor and Jinan smart manufacturing
corridor, two key projects launched by the city to enhance its role in leading regional sci-tech
innovation and manufacturing development, according to Zhao Wei, deputy director of the
intelligent equipment industry development center under the management committee of the Jinan
Innovation Zone.
The construction of the China computing valley, a key part of the corridors as well as a major and
key project launched by Jinan to build a new highland of global computing industry, is in full
swing. The project mainly consists of an industrial park and a sci-tech park.
The industrial park of China computing valley is expected to be completed and put into operation
at the end of this year, Zhao said.
“The curtain walls of the plants for the first phase of the industrial park have been basically
completed, and the main structure of the buildings for the second phase of the project was
capped,” Zhao told People’s Daily when referring to the construction of the industrial park, which
is a 20-minute car ride from the Qilu Softpark.
The industrial park, together with the sci-tech park, will form an industrial cluster featuring in-
depth integration of AI and the real economy, according to Zhao, who disclosed that more than 10
enterprises have decided to set up offices in the industrial park.
“Shandong province is home to more than 600 enterprises engaged in AI or related industries and
has built a sound foundation and ecosystem for AI industry,” said Ji Peide, head of the Jinan
municipal bureau of industry and information technology.
Considering AI industry as one of the key sectors for breakthroughs during China’s 14th Five-
Year Plan period (2021-2025), Jinan endeavors to create leading areas for demonstration of AI
innovation and industrial cluster and accumulate experience for innovative development of AI
industry, according to Ji.
As an important part of new infrastructure, AI infrastructure has come under the spotlight as it is
crucial to the role of AI industry in empowering economic and social development and serves as a
strong driver of the development of digital economy-related industries as well as the application of
smart technologies.
A report released by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT)
in January this year provided a systematic analysis of the latest trends in the development of AI
infrastructure in China in 2021 from three aspects: data set, computing power, and open-source
platform.
AI infrastructure is a special system of service facilities and capabilities designed to realize and
expand smart economy and build a society with a high level of intelligentization in all sectors,
according to the report.
Based on a basic capability platform featuring the three factors of computing power, data, and
algorithm, AI infrastructure empowers intelligent transformation of major sectors, such as
manufacturing, health, and transport through open application platforms and other means, said the
report.
China’s AI infrastructure is still in its infancy, and enjoys rapid growth and huge potential for
bigger role and greater value, pointed out the report.
