Zhongguancun Science Park's focus on AI paying dividends

Zhongguancun Science Park achieved innovation and spurred entrepreneurship in 2018, said its administrative committee.

High-tech companies in the park saw their revenue reach 5.9 trillion yuan ($857.2 billion) last year, a year-on-year rise of 11 percent. In total, 1,832 venture capital institutions invested in the area in 2018. Of their investments, 1,745 cases were related to startup projects, worth more than 240.6 billion yuan.

In 2018, 54 general projects led and aided by 57 companies in the park won national scientific and technological awards.

The park is exploring cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and advanced chips. It has developed globally competitive original technologies. To attract resources such as research teams and quality projects, it depends on new-type research and development institutions, scientific and technological projects and global innovation competitions.

The administrative committee also seeks innovation resources overseas in a bid to help organizations in the park cooperate with them. This is representative of Beijing's strong performance in innovation and development of advanced technology, local media reported.

The city released a policy in late 2017, designating 10 industries, including health and medicine and artificial intelligence, as priority sectors.

Beijing plans to build an AI innovation system, promote integrated application of AI and consolidate the development foundation of the AI industry.

The city launched an action plan in November 2018 to support the AI sector's growth. It centers on AI service platforms, joint development of laboratories, training and industry-university-research communication.

As planned, the Beijing Science and Technology Commission and Haidian district set up the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence last year. The academy launched a scholar plan in April, saying it will support 100 top experts and scholars in the AI field every year.

According to a white paper released in June 2018, 26 percent of AI companies nationwide are headquartered in Beijing. More than 25,000 patents relating to AI are from the city, which is home to AI research organizations such as Peking University and Tsinghua University.

Beijing began to issue policies for promoting AI development in 2017. Zhongguancun, as a national demonstration innovation area, offers tailor-made services to leading AI companies.

Zhongguancun also encouraged local companies to cooperate with international organizations, including those from Silicon Valley.

The park's administrative committee launched an action plan for 2017-20 in September 2017, which mainly supports five types of key technologies: AI chips and sensors, AI operating systems and basic software, AI core algorithm, AI application and system integration, and AI fundamental theory and forefront technology.

The plan calls for research into laws and regulations, supervisory policies, ethics and morals and insurance in AI fields. Analysis of industrial policies on unmanned driving and cooperating with nearby Tianjin and Hebei province to meet companies' road test needs are included.