On the afternoon of September 11, a symposium centered on "AI Empowerment, Industrial Upgrading" was held at the Wangyang Industrial Park in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, marking a strategic move by the Yangtze River Delta Innovation Center (Jiangsu) of Fuzhou University's National Science Park to deepen its presence in the regional integration landscape and seize opportunities presented by the ongoing artificial intelligence transformation.
This working session brought together policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to explore actionable routes for embedding AI more deeply into the real economy and to chart a forward-looking vision for the region's modern industrial system. Key discussion topics included the deep convergence of AI with core industries, the elevation of traditional sectors through smart technology, and the alignment of intelligent systems with evolving health and consumer trends. By bridging gaps in resource connectivity and encouraging cross-sector dialogue, the event sought to provide tangible momentum for the digital and intelligent advancement of local industries.
Among the notable participants were Wang Hongjiang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Macroeconomic Journal Council under the National Development and Reform Commission; Wang Huaqin, Head of the China Business Division of Singapore-based THi Holdings Development Group; Ji Guiying, Executive Director of the Yangtze River Delta Innovation Center (Jiangsu); Gao Ji, Deputy Director of the Nantong Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; and nearly ten leaders from high-quality technology enterprises across the Yangtze River Delta region. The breadth of attendance underscored the meeting's goal of fostering collaboration across the governmental, corporate, and research spheres.
During the symposium, Deputy Director Gao Ji elaborated on Nantong's systematic approach to AI development, which encompasses technological breakthroughs, the construction of innovation platforms, the opening of application scenarios, and a suite of supportive science and technology policies. His remarks made clear the city's firm commitment to nurturing a robust AI ecosystem through dedicated policy backing and infrastructure investments.
In her presentation, Executive Director Ji Guiying provided an overview of the Innovation Center's operational achievements and outlined its upcoming development strategy. The Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area has long maintained deep, strategic partnerships with academic science and technology platforms, jointly building high-level innovation hubs across the Yangtze River Delta. Leveraging the substantial research foundation, elite talent pools, and technological development strengths of Fuzhou University, the Wangyang Industrial Park has been effectively channeling premium scientific projects, top-tier human resources, and cutting-edge technical achievements into the local economy, thereby accelerating the journey of research from the laboratory to the production line.
Enterprise representatives at the meeting showcased practical outcomes from their AI deployments, covering areas like manufacturing optimization, product development, and efficiency enhancement. They also voiced targeted suggestions pertaining to the availability of computational power and data, the recruitment of top-tier talent, the strengthening of supply chain synergies, and the expansion of practical AI application scenarios. These insights are expected to offer the Industrial Park valuable guidance as it seeks to refine its industrial ecosystem, improve supporting services, and hasten the pace of industry-wide upgrades.
Looking ahead, the Park's management announced its intention to harness the strategic advantages of the Yangtze River Delta integration, particularly capitalizing on the cross-river collaboration between Shanghai and Jiangsu provinces. Building on the coordinated development model led by the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area, the Park will intensify its efforts to foster deeper integration among government, industry, academia, research, and application sectors. The primary objective is to accelerate the widespread adoption and implementation of AI technologies across all facets of the regional economy.
This symposium is not viewed as an endpoint but rather as a critical catalyst for future collaboration. The Park is dedicated to strengthening its working relationships with universities, research institutes, technology firms, and specialized agencies, all in an effort to precisely align with industrial demands, optimize resource availability, and cultivate a more favorable business climate. Ultimately, the vision is to establish the Park as a premier hub for AI innovation in the Yangtze River Delta and a benchmark for cross-region integration and development.