This plan is formulated to thoroughly implement the national and provincial work arrangements regarding the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector, accelerate the intelligent upgrading, digital transformation, and network connectivity of the manufacturing sector (hereinafter referred to as “Intelligent Upgrading, Digital Transformation, and Network Connectivity”), and build Wuxi into a national pilot city for the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises.
I. Main Objectives
By the end of 2026, 700 pilot enterprises across three specific sectors—integrated circuits, high-end equipment, and high-end textiles and apparel (hereinafter referred to as the “three specific sectors”)—will undergo digital transformation. A public service system for the digital transformation of Wuxi’s SMEs will be fundamentally established, driving stronger industrial support, more active technological innovation, more widespread integration and application, and more robust security safeguards. This will comprehensively enhance the digital and intelligent capabilities of the city’s SMEs, providing strong support for the construction of Wuxi as a leading city in smart manufacturing.
— Higher Digitalization Levels. By 2026, the digital development levels of the three sub-sectors will be comprehensively enhanced, with a growing number of benchmark factories for digital transformation, continuously strengthened capabilities of service providers, and a significant increase in the digitalization rate of enterprise equipment. The number of small and medium-sized industrial enterprises in the three sub-sectors that have achieved Level 2 or higher digitalization will reach 966, 100 digital transformation service providers will be selected, and the overall smart manufacturing level of manufacturing enterprises will be significantly improved.
— Greater Innovation Momentum. By 2026, we will promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and the development of emerging industries by building a new economic innovation ecosystem characterized by “openness, diversity, vitality, and mutual benefit.” SMEs in the three sub-sectors will file 3,000 patent applications, and 86 new R&D organizations—including municipal-level and higher technical centers—will be established, leading to a significant increase in R&D investment and innovation capabilities among manufacturing enterprises.
——Stronger corporate capabilities. By 2026, the tiered structure of manufacturing enterprises will be further strengthened, the ranks of leading enterprises will expand, and the contribution of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giant” enterprises to specific segments of the industrial chain will continue to grow. The three targeted sectors will see 16 new specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giant” enterprises, 60 new provincial-level specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises, and 150 new innovative SMEs.
II. Key Tasks
(1) Digital Transformation and Modernization Implementation Initiative
1. Selection of Pilot Enterprises for Transformation. Focusing on the three sub-sectors, enterprises will be selected for transformation based on tier and category, with a focus on industrial SMEs above the designated scale. Efforts will be made to ensure that all eligible SMEs above the designated scale in the pilot industries undergo transformation, and that all willing SMEs below the designated scale also undergo transformation.We will mobilize the enthusiasm of SMEs in the three specific sectors to participate in the pilot program. SMEs located at key links in the industrial chain will be selected as priority targets for digital transformation, with a focus on including "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" SMEs and industrial SMEs above the designated scale. No fewer than 700 SMEs will be selected as pilot enterprises. The list of pilot enterprises will be dynamically adjusted based on the progress of the pilot program. [The Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, the people’s governments of all cities (counties) and districts, and the Wuxi Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee shall be responsible according to their respective duties.The following tasks shall be implemented by the People’s Governments of all cities (counties) and districts, and the Wuxi Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee, and will not be listed separately]
2. Promote enterprise digital transformation. Focusing on specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises, conduct surveys and analyses of enterprise needs, as well as diagnostic evaluations and consultations, through a combination of online and offline methods. Provide “small, fast, lightweight, and precise” digital products and solutions, facilitate supply-demand matching for digital transformation, and steadily advance enterprise digital transformation. Encourage enterprises to select common applications or customized products and services based on their own needs and in accordance with relevant digital transformation standards.By the end of 2026, complete the digital transformation of 700 key enterprises across three specific industries, centered on provincial-level or higher “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” enterprises. Following the transformation, the digital maturity level of SMEs shall reach Level 2 (Standardized) or higher. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
3. Organize digital transformation evaluation and acceptance. After enterprises complete their digital transformation, organize third-party institutions to conduct digital capability evaluations and transformation acceptance based on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s “Evaluation Indicators for the Digital Capability of SMEs” and the “Guidelines for Evaluating the Digital Capability of Pilot Enterprises in Digital Transformation Pilot Cities.” These evaluations will assess pilot enterprises’ digital foundations, digital management, and digital outcomes. Enterprises achieving a digital capability level of Grade 2 or higher will be uniformly registered. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
(II) “Point-Line-Surface” Expansion Action for Digital Transformation
4."Point": Building Benchmark Demonstration Projects. Focusing on dimensions such as enterprise application effectiveness, digitalization level ratings, and return on investment, guide enterprises to enhance the quality and efficiency of their transformation. Cultivate 80 model enterprises that have achieved significant results from digital transformation and attained Level 4 in the SME Digitalization Level Assessment, thereby creating more replicable demonstration models characterized by strong technology, optimal business models, and high returns. By the end of 2026, foster 60 smart factories across three specific industry segments. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
5. Strengthen the “chain-based” transformation effect along the “line.” Centered on the three specific industries, build a “chain-based” digital ecosystem and encourage “chain-leading” enterprises to enhance information integration and interaction with upstream, downstream, and ecosystem partners. With “chain-leading” enterprises at the core and key enterprises in the industrial chain as links, determine “chain-based” transformation models tailored to each industry’s characteristics to achieve coordinated industrial chain development led by “chain-leading” (platform) enterprises.Support large enterprises in building platforms and small and medium-sized enterprises in utilizing them, promoting the integrated innovation of industry-specific technologies with industrial mechanism models as well as technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, and blockchain. Implement a “one chain, one strategy” approach to tailor digital transformation solutions for enterprises. By the end of 2026, cultivate 8 high-quality “chain-leading” enterprises across the three sub-sectors and establish 10 exemplary cases of “chain-based” digital transformation. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
6. Innovate transformation pathways for specialized industrial parks at the “area” level. Leverage the industrial agglomeration advantages of specialized industrial parks to build a batch of digital transformation demonstration projects. Promote the implementation of outstanding industrial internet solutions, typical application scenarios, and “small, fast, light, and precise” digital products and solutions within the parks, thereby advancing the digital transformation of park enterprises in a batch-based and large-scale manner.Accelerate the establishment of a collaborative transformation system comprising “Digital Transformation Empowerment Centers for Manufacturing SMEs + Specialized Industrial Parks,” forming a “one center, one park” digital support mechanism. This will enhance the parks’ capabilities in “cloud adoption, data utilization, and intelligent empowerment” and facilitate activities such as bringing digital empowerment initiatives into the parks. By the end of 2026, cultivate 3 specialized industrial clusters (parks) for SMEs and 3 industry-specific “Industrial Internet Platform + Industrial Cluster” empowerment models across three sub-sectors. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
(3) Digital Transformation “Network Interconnection” Amplification Initiative
7. Interconnectivity of Industrial and Supply Chain Data. Leverage the role of supply chain platforms in key industries to promote efficient network connectivity between manufacturing enterprises and digital service providers around core data flows. Break down information silos and integrate data production, storage, exchange, analysis, and application. Use digital supply chains to drive digital manufacturing, and use data flow demands to drive network construction. This will facilitate the optimal allocation of corporate technology, capital, talent, and materials, fostering the development of “new products, new services, new business formats, and new models.”. By 2026, cultivate 10 exemplary cases of supply chain digitization. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
8. Leverage the multiplier effect of data as a production factor. Use data assets to drive supporting digital services. Attract diverse market entities such as data developers, data service providers, and platform service providers. Utilize technologies such as privacy-preserving computing and secure data circulation to promote the comprehensive development of data collection, storage, cleansing, labeling, and training.Promote the implementation of standards such as the Data Management Capability Maturity Assessment Model. Conduct surveys on industrial data elements, explore the registration of industrial data assets, and establish a comprehensive industrial service system covering data catalogs, data governance, data registration, and development and utilization. Strengthen data asset management and diversify corporate financing channels and models. By 2026, pilot industrial data asset rights confirmation, registration, and comprehensive services at approximately 10 enterprises. (Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; Municipal Party Committee Financial Affairs Office, responsible according to their respective duties)
(IV) Action to Improve the Quality of Digital Transformation Supply
9. Promote the Upgrading of the Digital Service System. Focusing on three specific sub-sectors, we will widely solicit comprehensive, specialized, and scenario-based digital service providers nationwide to expand supply capabilities in industry solutions, system integration services, cloud services, system application services, and data collection and transmission equipment services. We will improve the multi-tiered service system, establish Digital Transformation Empowerment Centers for Small and Medium-sized Manufacturing Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as “Empowerment Centers”), and enhance local service capabilities.By 2026, establish a “1+10+100” digital transformation service system; promote the construction of a municipal-level public service platform for intelligent transformation, digital transformation, and network connectivity; strengthen approximately 10 Empowerment Centers; and aggregate 100 high-quality software and hardware service providers. Continuously promote the physical and market-oriented operation of Empowerment Centers, enhance their functions and service levels, and implement a system of survival of the fittest. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
10. Optimize service processes based on demand. Promote the shift of enterprise digital diagnosis work from push-based services to on-demand services, and from primarily offline to a parallel online-offline approach. Continuously provide diagnosis and evaluation services to a wide range of SMEs, focusing on identifying common needs, and assist pilot enterprises in scientifically assessing their pre-transformation digital maturity levels. Establish a full-process service mechanism covering digital project diagnosis (needs identification), transformation (process support), and evaluation (acceptance of results).By 2026, the digital transformation “registration and filing” of all above-scale industrial enterprises in the city’s three specific sectors will be essentially achieved. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
11. Promote lightweight solutions. Further identify pain points and challenges in enterprise digital transformation, compile lists of common and specific needs, and establish a supply-demand matching database for the three specific industries. Organize various activities such as supply-demand matching, policy briefings, technical seminars, solution promotion, and visits to benchmark enterprises.Solicit outstanding “small, fast, lightweight, and precise” digital products and solutions to build a resource pool. By 2026, focusing on the three specific industries, the city will aggregate no fewer than 110 “small, fast, lightweight, and precise” digital products and solutions, develop a range of AI solutions, and create a digital transformation “toolkit” that meets both the common needs of the industries and the personalized needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
(5) Action Plan for Ensuring Digital Transformation Resources
12. Plan information infrastructure with moderate foresight. Accelerate high-quality “dual-gigabit” network coverage in key industrial clusters and encourage eligible industrial parks to pilot “10-gigabit park” construction to meet the external network upgrade needs of manufacturing enterprises. Support the transformation and upgrading of enterprise intranets through the digitization and networking of industrial equipment, and the adoption of technologies such as 5G, Passive Optical Networks (PON), edge computing, computing power networks, Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), and IPv6.Build capability platforms to provide public services to enterprises centered on new technologies such as the Industrial Internet, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain. Promote the large-scale deployment of IPv6 in the industrial sector, with a focus on helping “chain-leading” enterprises complete IPv6 upgrades for both hardware and software and develop “IPv6+” integrated innovative applications. Adhering to a market-oriented approach and guided by enterprise needs, scientifically plan and steadily advance relatively centralized, low-carbon, and high-efficiency intelligent computing projects to provide computing power support for large-scale models and digital-intelligent application scenarios.(The Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology and the Municipal Cyberspace Administration Office shall be responsible in accordance with their respective duties)
13. Strengthen financial support. Encourage financial institutions to develop financial products and services related to the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises. Facilitate collaboration between financial institutions and manufacturing enterprises to precisely match financing needs using technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, conduct multi-dimensional enterprise credit assessments, and support rapid and accurate lending. Encourage banks to innovate and launch products such as “Digital Transformation Loans,” providing exclusive financial services—including high credit limits, low interest rates, long repayment terms, and fast approval—to key enterprises undergoing transformation, thereby accelerating the pace of enterprise transformation.Financial institutions are encouraged to develop personalized and targeted financial products for the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises, and to explore innovative financial models such as the registration of industrial data rights and supply chain finance. (Responsibility lies with the Wuxi Branch of the People’s Bank of China, the Municipal Financial Affairs Office, the Wuxi Financial Regulatory Sub-bureau, and the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, in accordance with their respective duties)
14. Strengthen talent support for digital transformation. Relying on the “Taihu Talent Plan,” attract a group of high-level talents in digital transformation. Support local institutions of higher education in establishing disciplines related to intelligent transformation, digital transformation, and network connectivity. Encourage enterprises, universities, and research institutes to jointly build practical training bases and talent-sharing centers to cultivate a cohort of “digital artisans” and multidisciplinary talents.Leverage industrial alliances, industry associations, and research institutions to build a team of high-end consulting and technology service professionals. Establish a cross-industry, cross-domain, and cross-disciplinary expert database for manufacturing digital transformation. Strengthen and innovate talent training services by organizing a series of specialized training sessions and engineering practical exercises to promote the updating of smart manufacturing knowledge among management and technical personnel in enterprises above designated size. (Responsibility lies with the Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology according to their respective duties)
(6) Digital Transformation Integration and Foundation-Building Initiative
15. Promote the integrated development of industries related to digital transformation.Accelerate the application of advanced digital and intelligent equipment and industrial software products, and actively promote the development of digital transformation-related industries such as embodied intelligent robots, intelligent inspection equipment, and industrial software. Launch “challenge-based” initiatives for the clustering, innovation platforms, application scenarios, and industrialization of the embodied intelligent robot industry, with a focus on expanding scenario applications in the industrial sector. Accelerate the upgrading and iteration of industrial operating systems for manufacturing. Promote the comprehensive use of artificial intelligence to empower enterprise digital transformation and create exemplary scenarios. (Responsibility: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
16. Explore the development of digital transformation standards.Strengthen top-level design of standards and the development of key standards to enhance corporate innovation capabilities. Guide digital service providers, pilot enterprises, research institutes, and other entities to actively participate in the formulation of standards for the diagnosis, implementation, and services related to the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises. Summarize and synthesize experiences from pilot projects to promote the development of industry standards, group standards, and local standards. Accelerate research and development of key technologies for data collection and interoperability in critical processes and typical application scenarios, as well as the formulation and application of relevant standards. Support leading enterprises in taking the lead in formulating industry standards and promoting their application.By 2026, develop no fewer than three sets of digital transformation evaluation indicators and related guidelines for the three specific industries. (Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, responsible according to their respective duties)
17. Strengthen the security barriers for digital transformation. Establish a graded and categorized management mechanism for network and data security. Encourage key enterprises and industrial internet platforms to enhance security protection for critical data and strengthen full-lifecycle management covering data collection, transmission, storage, use, exchange, and destruction. Encourage more than 10 enterprises to explore the use of blockchain technology to build multi-stakeholder supply chain trust mechanisms, trustworthy and controllable production safety mechanisms, and product full-lifecycle quality mechanisms.Actively cultivate data security service providers and encourage the integration of data security solutions into “small, fast, lightweight, and precise” digital products and solutions. Utilize new technologies such as artificial intelligence algorithms to establish digital and intelligent security monitoring systems and early warning and emergency response systems, and conduct cybersecurity level assessments. By 2026, add 10 new enterprises to the list of star-rated industrial information security protection enterprises. (Responsibility lies with the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology and the Municipal Cyberspace Administration Office according to their respective duties)
III. Support Measures
Strengthen overall coordination to foster synergy, establish and improve mechanisms for interdepartmental collaboration and coordinated advancement between the municipal level and municipal (county) districts, and conduct regular work scheduling and coordination. Enhance policy support by refining supporting policies, coordinating digital transformation policies at all levels, and constructing a tiered, differentiated, and broad-spectrum policy support system to further improve the practicality and effectiveness of policies.Strengthen evaluation and monitoring to improve the efficiency of funds. Improve the management system for special funds allocated to pilot cities and promote the scientific and standardized use of fiscal funds. Strengthen publicity and guidance to foster a positive atmosphere. Demonstrate methods, pathways, and integrated application scenarios for digital transformation through a combination of online and offline channels to enhance enterprises’ awareness and willingness to undergo digital transformation. Stimulate the initiative of enterprises of all types to dare to transform, be willing to transform, and know how to transform, thereby creating a strong atmosphere for development. (The Municipal Publicity Department, the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, and the Municipal Finance Bureau shall be responsible according to their respective duties)
