Smart transformation powers Ningbo's future

The 15th Smart City and Intelligent Economy Expo opens in Ningbo on Sept 5. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Ningbo, Zhejiang province, is rapidly emerging as an outlier hub of intelligent industry, AI innovation and digital transformation.

Since the city's first Smart City and Intelligent Economy Expo in 2011, Ningbo has continued to integrate digital technology across industries and urban life.

In the past decade, the city's digital industrialization has strengthened its economic infrastructure - fostering innovation-driven growth while enabling residents to experience the benefits of a smart, AI-powered metropolis.

In the industrial sector, local manufacturers like SiChain Semiconductors are producing third-generation chips for electric vehicles, energy storage and smart grids.

Last year, SiChain‘s mainstream silicon carbide devices surpassed 5 million units, generating over 100 million yuan ($14 million) in sales.

Ningbo Puzhi Future Robotics has also launched its first humanoid robot production line, with an annual design capacity of 1,000 units for both two-legged robots and robots with wheels.

AI is fast becoming integral to factory operations. At Rybaca Electric, intelligent assistants help 22 human staff to process customer requests more efficiently, significantly reducing training times and improving response speeds.

Over at Zhenhai Refinery, the complex applies AI-driven large models to optimize oil blending, cutting adjustment times to just 2.5 hours, with accuracy comparable to senior technicians.

Everywhere, smart city applications are transforming daily life. In Haishu district, AI-powered Tianji robots deliver automated weather alerts to farmers.

Platforms like Yongjintong consolidate data from dozens of government departments - enhancing finance, healthcare, education and public services. Intelligent systems even monitor bridges, parks and waste collection, boosting efficiency and safety citywide.

Overall, Ningbo's ever-expanding ecosystem of digital enterprises, AI applications and high-performance computing infrastructure is accelerating the city's journey towards full-scale urban intelligence.

By fostering collaboration between government, industry and research institutions, it's turning technological innovation into tangible social and economic value.