Qingdao pioneers deployment of industrial internet

The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province plans to offer 3,000 possible application of industrial internet to attract more companies and investment from around the world, as the city seeks to become the world's industrial internet capital.

The first 500 application scenarios were already released during the industrial internet forum of the 2020 Global Venture Capital Online Conference on May 8. The scenarios involved intelligent application, intelligent software, industrial big data, system integration, and other sectors.

Industrial internet refers to a network of combined, advanced machines with internet-connected sensors that collect and analyze data from consumers, suppliers and factories. It is designed to allow companies to customize products at speed and scale while boosting productivity and reducing costs.

Local officials have said that industrial internet is a new frontier and countries around the world are scrambling to establish a stronghold in the industry as it provides an opportunity to further grow one's manufacturing prowess.

During the forum, Qingdao-based manufacturing enterprises detailed their development demands for industrial internet technology, capital, talent and more, while three experts from Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Shandong University of Science and Technology, and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications discussed the application of industrial big data and other technologies into industrial internet.

According to the Qingdao Industrial and Information Technology Bureau, Qingdao has already formed a preliminary industrial internet ecosystem.

Last year, Qingdao launched "high-end manufacturing + artificial intelligence" strategy to boost smart manufacturing, and a series of top research institutes focusing on industrial technology, block chain, industrial internet, and communication have set up branches in the city.

The city is also encouraging companies to build and use industrial internet platforms to support intelligent production.