To the competent authorities for industry and information technology, education, science and technology, transportation, culture and tourism, and state-owned asset supervision and administration in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities with separate planning status, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; to all units under the Chinese Academy of Sciences; to the communications administration bureaus of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government; to relevant central enterprises; and to all relevant units:
Future industries are driven by cutting-edge technologies. Currently in their nascent stages or early phases of industrialization, they represent forward-looking emerging industries characterized by significant strategic importance, leadership potential, disruptive impact, and uncertainty.Vigorously developing future industries is a strategic choice to lead scientific and technological progress, drive industrial upgrading, and foster new productive forces. To implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the “Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035,” seize the opportunities presented by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, accelerate the development of future industries with a focus on the manufacturing sector as the main battlefield, and support the advancement of new industrialization, the following opinions are hereby put forward.
I. Guiding Principles
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the building of a new development paradigm, and balance development with security. Taking the high-end upgrading of traditional industries and the industrialization of cutting-edge technologies as the main focus, we will use innovation as the driving force, enterprises as the main body, practical applications as the driving force, and landmark products as the key, follow the laws of scientific and technological innovation and industrial development, strengthen forward-looking planning and policy guidance,actively cultivate future industries, accelerate the formation of new-quality productive forces, and provide strong support for the construction of a great nation.
II. Basic Principles
Forward-looking Deployment and Phased Cultivation. Aligning with the trends of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and focusing on major national needs and strategically critical fields, we will engage in systematic planning and proactive deployment. By grasping the laws governing the development of future industries, we will cultivate them in phases and make dynamic adjustments.
Innovation-driven, application-led. We will lead the development of future industries through breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies and strengthen original and disruptive technological innovation. Guided by practical applications, we will integrate R&D with implementation to accelerate the industrialization process.
Ecosystem Synergy and Systematic Advancement. We will pool resources from government, industry, academia, research institutions, and end-users, and integrate elements such as capital, talent, technology, and data to build an industrial ecosystem where innovation chains, industrial chains, capital chains, and talent chains are deeply integrated.
Open cooperation and secure, orderly development. Actively participate in the global division of labor and cooperation in future industries, and deeply integrate into the global innovation network. Coordinate technological innovation with ethical governance to foster an inclusive, prudent, secure, and sustainable development environment.
III. Development Goals
By 2025, future industries will achieve comprehensive development in technological innovation, industrial cultivation, and security governance, with certain sectors reaching internationally advanced levels and the scale of the industry steadily expanding. We will establish a number of future industry incubators and pilot zones, achieve breakthroughs in over 100 cutting-edge core technologies, develop over 100 landmark products, foster over 100 leading enterprises, pioneer over 100 typical application scenarios, formulate over 100 key standards, and cultivate over 100 specialized service institutions, thereby preliminarily establishing a future industry development model suited to China’s actual conditions.
By 2027, the comprehensive strength of future industries will have significantly improved, with global leadership achieved in certain sectors. Major breakthroughs will be made in key core technologies; a range of new technologies, products, business models, and operational frameworks will be widely adopted; key industries will achieve large-scale development; a cohort of ecosystem-leading enterprises will be cultivated; and a development framework will be established where future industries synergize with advantageous, emerging, and traditional industries. A long-term mechanism for sustainable development will be formed, positioning China as a major global hub for future industries.
IV. Key Tasks
(1) Comprehensive Planning for Future Industries
1. Strengthen forward-looking planning and deployment. Grasp global trends in scientific and technological innovation and industrial development, and prioritize the advancement of industries in six major directions: future manufacturing, future information, future materials, future energy, future space, and future health.Establish a Future Industry Observatory to precisely identify and nurture high-potential future industries using technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced computing. Leverage the advantages of the new national system to guide local regions in rationally planning, precisely cultivating, and pursuing differentiated development of future industries based on their industrial foundations and resource endowments. Utilize cutting-edge technologies as catalysts to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries by targeting high-end, intelligent, and green sectors, thereby providing new impetus for building a modern industrial system.
Box 1: Proactive Deployment in New Growth Areas
Future Manufacturing. Develop smart manufacturing, bio-manufacturing, nano-manufacturing, laser manufacturing, and circular manufacturing; achieve breakthroughs in key core technologies such as intelligent control, intelligent sensing, and simulation; promote models such as flexible manufacturing and shared manufacturing; and drive the development of the Industrial Internet and the Industrial Metaverse.
Future Information. Promote the industrial application of next-generation mobile communications, satellite internet, and quantum information technologies; accelerate innovation and breakthroughs in quantum and photonic computing technologies; accelerate the deep empowerment of brain-inspired intelligence, swarm intelligence, and large-scale models; and accelerate the cultivation of the intelligent industry.
Future Materials. Promote the upgrading of advanced basic materials such as non-ferrous metals, chemicals, and inorganic non-metallic materials; develop key strategic materials such as high-performance carbon fiber and advanced semiconductors; and accelerate the innovative application of cutting-edge new materials such as superconducting materials.
Future Energy. Focus on key areas such as nuclear energy, nuclear fusion, hydrogen energy, and biomass energy to build a future energy equipment system covering the entire “collection-storage-transportation-application” chain. Research and develop high-efficiency solar cells—including new crystalline silicon and thin-film solar cells—and related specialized electronic equipment; accelerate the development of new energy storage technologies; and promote the integration and upgrading of the energy electronics industry.
Future Space. Focus on fields such as aerospace, the deep sea, and the deep earth. Develop high-end equipment including manned spaceflight, lunar and Mars exploration, satellite navigation, near-air unmanned systems, and advanced high-efficiency aircraft. Accelerate the development and innovative application of deep-sea submersibles, deep-sea operation equipment, deep-sea search-and-rescue detection devices, and intelligent deep-sea unmanned platforms. Promote the development of equipment for deep-earth resource exploration and extraction, the development and utilization of urban underground space, and polar exploration and operations.
Future Health. Accelerate the industrialization of cutting-edge technologies such as cell and gene therapy, synthetic biology, and biological breeding; leverage technologies like 5G/6G, the metaverse, and artificial intelligence to empower new forms of medical services; and develop high-end medical equipment and health products that integrate advanced technologies such as digital twins and brain-computer interfaces.
(2) Accelerating Technological Innovation and Industrialization
2. Enhance Innovation Capabilities. Implement major national science and technology projects and key R&D initiatives targeting priority future industries to accelerate breakthroughs in core technologies. Leverage the role of innovation platforms such as national laboratories and national key laboratories to strengthen the supply of foundational and generic technologies.Encourage leading enterprises to spearhead the formation of innovation consortia, pool resources from industry, academia, research, and application sectors, and systematically advance technological breakthroughs in key areas. Promote cross-disciplinary technological convergence and innovation, accelerate breakthroughs in disruptive technologies, and establish hubs for original technological innovation. Organize innovation and entrepreneurship competitions for future industries to stimulate innovation across all sectors.
3. Promote the Commercialization of Achievements. Publish a catalog of cutting-edge technology applications and promotions; establish an “online exhibition hall” for future industry achievements; create product trading platforms; and host achievement-matching exhibitions to facilitate precise alignment between supply and demand. Develop new models for science and technology services and technology markets; select specialized institutions for the evaluation and transfer of scientific and technological achievements; and explore application scenarios and business models. Implement incentive policies for the first units of major technical equipment and the first batches of materials, and accelerate the application and promotion of new technologies and products.
(3) Developing Signature Products
4. Breakthroughs in Next-Generation Smart Terminals. Develop industrial terminal products aligned with the trend toward general-purpose intelligence to support improved quality and efficiency in industrial production and empower new industrialization. Develop consumer-grade terminals that are widely available, intelligent, convenient, and offer immersive experiences to meet new demands in digital lifestyles, digital culture, and public services. Create smart, elderly-friendly medical and health terminals to enhance the quality of life and health of the people.Achieve breakthroughs in super terminals with explosive growth potential, such as high-level intelligent connected vehicles and metaverse gateways, to build new competitive advantages for the industry.
5. Enhance information service products. Develop next-generation operating systems to build a secure and reliable digital foundation. Promote open-source technology, build open-source communities, and establish an open-source ecosystem. Explore the construction of next-generation Internet innovation applications and digital ecosystems with blockchain as the core technology and data as the key element. Accelerate the R&D of software products for next-generation mobile information networks and brain-inspired intelligence, encourage demonstration applications of new products, and unleash the potential of information services.
6. Strengthen future high-end equipment. Addressing major national strategic needs and the people’s aspirations for a better life, we will accelerate the implementation of major technological equipment R&D projects. We will achieve breakthroughs in high-end equipment products such as humanoid robots, quantum computers, ultra-high-speed trains, next-generation large aircraft, green and intelligent vessels, and unmanned boats and ships. By leveraging complete systems to drive the industrialization of new technologies, we will build a globally leading high-end equipment system.We will thoroughly implement the Industrial Foundation Rebuilding Project to address shortcomings in basic components, parts, materials, processes, and software, thereby solidifying the foundation for future industrial development.
Box 2: Innovative Flagship Products
Humanoid Robots. Achieve breakthroughs in core technologies such as high-torque-density servo motors, high-dynamic-range motion planning and control, biomimetic perception and cognition, intelligent dexterous hands, and electronic skin. Prioritize the development and application of products in fields such as smart manufacturing, home services, and operations in special environments.
Quantum Computers. Strengthen R&D in fault-tolerant general-purpose quantum computing technologies, improve physical hardware metrics and algorithmic error correction capabilities, promote the coordinated deployment of quantum software and quantum cloud platforms, leverage the superiority of quantum computing, and explore its penetration into vertical industry applications.
Next-Generation Displays. Accelerate research on quantum dot displays and holographic displays; achieve breakthroughs in Micro-LED, laser, and printed display technologies and realize their large-scale application; achieve barrier-free, fully flexible, and 3D stereoscopic display effects; and accelerate their promotion in scenarios such as smart terminals, smart connected vehicles, remote connectivity, and cultural content presentation.
Brain-Computer Interfaces. Achieve breakthroughs in key technologies and core components such as brain-computer integration, brain-inspired chips, and neural models for brain computation. Develop a range of user-friendly and secure brain-computer interface products, and encourage exploration of applications in typical fields such as medical rehabilitation, autonomous driving, and virtual reality.
6G Network Equipment. Conduct research on advanced wireless communications, new network architectures, cross-domain integration, integrated air-space-ground systems, and network and data security. Develop concept prototypes for key wireless technologies and create distinctive applications such as holographic communication and digital twins.
Ultra-large-scale next-generation intelligent computing centers. Accelerate breakthroughs in technologies such as GPU chips, low-latency interconnect networks for clusters, and heterogeneous resource management; build ultra-large-scale intelligent computing centers to meet the demands of iterative training and application inference for large models.
Third-Generation Internet. Promote pilot applications of the Third-Generation Internet in data exchanges; explore the use of blockchain technology to integrate data across platforms of key entities in priority industries and sectors; research digital identity authentication systems for the Third-Generation Internet; establish data governance and transaction circulation mechanisms; and create replicable and scalable best practices.
High-End Cultural and Tourism Equipment. Develop specialized and supporting software to support cultural and entertainment creation; advance the development of advanced equipment for performing arts and amusement, high-end equipment for land, water, and air tourism, immersive experience facilities, smart tourism systems, and detection and monitoring platforms; and develop intelligent, high-end, and integrated cultural and tourism equipment.
Advanced and Efficient Aviation Equipment. Focusing on the development of next-generation large aircraft, achieve breakthroughs in core technologies such as novel configurations, intelligent flight control, interconnected avionics, multi-electric systems, and open-rotor hybrid engines. Advance research on advanced concepts such as supersonic, ultra-efficient subsonic, and new-energy passenger aircraft. To meet future smart air traffic demands, accelerate the development and application of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and intelligent, high-efficiency aviation logistics equipment.
Deep-Resource Exploration and Development Equipment. To meet the demands of deep-sea operations, we will drive breakthroughs in a series of key technologies, led by high-end exploration and development equipment such as engineering prototypes of ultra-deep intelligent drilling rigs, deep-sea oil and gas subsea production systems, and deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining vehicles.
(IV) Strengthening Industrial Entities
7. Cultivate a tiered structure of high-level enterprises. Guide leading enterprises to proactively plan for new growth areas and foster new entities in future industries through internal entrepreneurship and investment incubation. Implement the “Future Industries Launch Action Plan” for central state-owned enterprises to accelerate the cultivation of new enterprises in future industries. Establish incubation bases for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in future industries, and systematically nurture specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs, high-tech enterprises, and “Little Giant” enterprises. Support the rapid development of new R&D institutions to foster a diversified force for advancing future industries.
8. Build Distinctive Industrial Chains. Rely on leading enterprises to cultivate future industry chains and establish advanced technology systems. Encourage eligible regions to pilot initiatives first, leveraging National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zones, National High-Tech Industrial Development Zones, and New Industrialization Demonstration Bases to create future industry pilot zones, thereby promoting specialized and clustered industrial development. Innovate management mechanisms, build digitalized supply chains and industrial chains, facilitate the convergence of innovation resources, and accelerate the efficient circulation of production factors such as data and knowledge.
9. Build an industrial ecosystem. Strengthen collaboration among industry, academia, research institutions, and end-users to establish innovation consortia for future industries, and construct an ecosystem where large, medium, and small enterprises develop in an integrated manner and upstream and downstream sectors of the industrial chain engage in collaborative innovation. Enhance mutual recognition of standards and the interoperability of factors of production within the unified national market, improve the resilience of industrial and supply chains, and build an industrial ecosystem featuring complementary products and synergy between hardware and software.
(V) Expand Application Scenarios
10. Explore new industrialization scenarios. Focusing on key sectors such as equipment, raw materials, and consumer goods, establish application testbeds for stages including design, production, testing, and operation and maintenance, using large-scale iterative product applications to accelerate the technological maturity of future industries. Deepen the integration of next-generation information technology with manufacturing, accelerate the restructuring of industrial chain structures, processes, and models, and pioneer new applications for future manufacturing. Leverage the diverse scenario advantages of central state-owned enterprises to expedite the development of diversified future manufacturing scenarios.Accelerate the promotion of emerging scenarios such as the industrial metaverse and biomanufacturing, using scenario innovation to drive the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing sector.
11. Create cross-sector integration scenarios. Leveraging major events, we will implement cross-domain, comprehensive pilot applications of cutting-edge technologies and products to establish demonstration benchmarks. Relying on major engineering projects and scenarios such as manned spaceflight, deep-sea, and deep-earth exploration, we will accelerate the exploration of innovative applications of future space technologies to serve national strategic needs. Building on the development of urban clusters and metropolitan areas, we will create green and intensive industry-city integration scenarios.Innovate future information service scenarios to accelerate the formation of a new paradigm of inclusive, equitable, convenient, and intelligent information services.
12. Build Landmark Scenarios. Regularly select and publish lists of typical application scenarios and recommended catalogs, and establish a repository of outstanding cases and solutions. Guide localities to develop distinctive benchmark demonstration scenarios, organize high-level supply-demand matching events based on these scenarios, and accelerate the promotion of new technologies and products. Encourage enterprises to conduct innovation and R&D focused on application scenarios, and support universities and research institutes in building early-stage testing scenarios for original and disruptive technologies to lead future technological iterations and breakthroughs.
(VI) Optimizing the Industrial Support System
13. Strengthen standard-led development and patent protection. Align with the needs of future industries to coordinate the development roadmap for standardization, and accelerate the formulation of key standards. Conduct timely promotion and training for key standards, guide enterprises to meet these standards, and accelerate the application and promotion of future industry standards. Promote the coordinated development of standards, patents, and technologies, and guide enterprises to integrate their proprietary intellectual property with technical standards.Improve mechanisms for building and stockpiling independent intellectual property in key areas, deepen collaboration with international and domestic intellectual property organizations, and establish a high-quality patent selection, evaluation, and promotion system for future industries.
Box 3: Strengthening Standard-Led Development
Proactively plan standard research. Focus on key areas such as the metaverse, brain-computer interfaces, and quantum information; formulate standardization roadmaps; and develop standards covering foundational and general principles, key technologies, testing methods, key products, typical applications, as well as safety and ethics, while promoting the development of relevant standards at appropriate times.
Promote pilot applications of standards. Organize relevant industry associations, professional standardization bodies, and technical organizations to conduct outreach and training on standards in future industries based on enterprise development needs, thereby integrating advanced technologies, concepts, and methods into enterprise R&D, production, and management processes through standardized frameworks.
Deepen international standardization cooperation. Support domestic enterprises and institutions in actively participating in international standardization activities organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Organize enterprises across the industrial chain to jointly advance the development of international standards and explore the establishment of international standardization alliances.
Establish an intellectual property system. Build an intellectual property operation and service platform for future industries, and conduct intellectual property risk monitoring and assessment. Form intellectual property alliances, establish industry patent pools, conduct patent analysis for key industrial chains, and build a high-quality patent selection, evaluation, and promotion system.
14. Simultaneously Build Pilot Production Capabilities. Establish a number of pilot production and application verification platforms in accordance with industrial needs, enhance the supply capacity of precision measuring instruments, high-end testing equipment, and design simulation software, provide trial environments for the verification of key technologies, and accelerate the transformation of new technologies into actual productive capacity. Establish a number of public service institutions for pilot production to improve service levels in areas such as engineering development, technology maturation, prototype manufacturing, and testing and verification.
15. Build a professional talent pool. Vigorously cultivate leading entrepreneurs and scientists for future industries, and optimize an innovation and entrepreneurship environment that encourages originality and tolerates failure. Stimulate the innovative vitality of scientific researchers, establish a number of future technology colleges, and explore training models for interdisciplinary innovative talent. Strengthen university-enterprise joint training programs, expand channels for attracting talent from overseas, and intensify efforts to recruit high-level talent in short supply in cutting-edge fields.
16. Strengthen new-generation infrastructure. Deepen the development of 5G, computing power infrastructure, the Industrial Internet, the Internet of Things (IoT), the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), and gigabit optical networks. Proactively plan research into key technologies such as 6G, satellite internet, and direct satellite connectivity for mobile devices. Build a new-generation digital infrastructure that is high-speed and ubiquitous, integrated and interconnected, intelligent and green, as well as secure and efficient. Guide major scientific and technological infrastructure to serve future industries, deepen the sharing of facilities, equipment, and data, and accelerate the transformation and application of cutting-edge technologies.Promote the integration and application of next-generation information technologies into traditional infrastructure sectors such as transportation, energy, and water conservancy; develop the digital economy in the highway sector; and accelerate the digital transformation of infrastructure.
V. Support Measures
(1) Strengthen Coordination and Collaboration. Under the leadership of the Central Science and Technology Commission and in accordance with the requirements of the National Leading Group for Building a Manufacturing Powerhouse, establish a working framework featuring inter-ministerial coordination and collaboration between central and local governments. Using these Implementation Guidelines as a roadmap, formulate specialized policy documents for fields such as brain-computer interfaces and quantum information to create a comprehensive policy system for future industries. Leverage the role of social organizations such as industry associations to promote advanced best practices and foster a favorable environment for advancing the development of future industries.
(2) Increase Financial Support. Encourage funds such as the Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrading Fund and the National SME Development Fund to increase investment. Implement the “Integration of Science, Technology, Industry, and Finance” initiative to attract more capital to invest early, in small-scale enterprises, and in hard technology. Improve financial and fiscal support policies; encourage policy-based banks and financial institutions to increase investment; guide local governments to establish special funds for future industries; explore the establishment of special risk compensation funds; and optimize compensation measures such as risk provisioning funds.
(3) Strengthen security governance. Adhere to an inclusive and prudent governance philosophy, explore cross-departmental joint governance models, and build a future industry governance framework featuring multi-stakeholder participation and effective coordination. Intensify research on ethical norms, scientifically delineate “red lines” and “bottom lines,” and establish an integrated mechanism for identification, assessment, defense, and governance. Guide enterprises to establish self-regulatory mechanisms for data management and product development, improve security monitoring, early warning analysis, and emergency response measures, and mitigate risks associated with the application of cutting-edge technologies.
(4) Deepen international cooperation. Leveraging mechanisms such as the Belt and Road Initiative, encourage domestic enterprises and research institutions to go global and participate deeply in the global division of labor for future industries.Encourage multinational corporations and foreign research institutions to establish cutting-edge technology R&D centers in China, and promote joint technology R&D and industrial applications between domestic and foreign enterprises. Organize events such as the Global Future Industry Development Forum and establish an International Innovation Alliance for Future Industries. Strengthen cooperation with relevant international organizations, actively participate in the formulation of international governance rules and standards, and actively contribute Chinese products, Chinese solutions, and Chinese wisdom.
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministry of Transport
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council
Chinese Academy of Sciences
January 18, 2024
