China launches big data engineering lab for government management

GUIYANG - China's first big data engineering laboratory newly launched in Guizhou province is expected to help improve government management efficiency.

The lab, officially set up Wednesday, has several functions, including collecting and analyzing administrative data, offering privacy protection of data and applying big data technology to government decision making, clean government supervision, social management and public services.

The lab is located in the national high-tech industrial development zone in the provincial capital Guiyang.

"It will focus on the study of big data dedicated to government management and encourage the application and industrialization of big data in government management efficiency," said Wang Daming, head of the Council of National Engineering Laboratory.

The National Development and Reform Commission approved the joint construction of the laboratory by Guizhou and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation in November 2016.

Guizhou is the country's first pilot zone for big data. The technology has been widely applied in government management, business and daily life.

For example, the provincial high people's court has set up a big data system to aid the handling of cases and facilitate public inquiries.

The province also made a big data industrial map, which demonstrates companies' development in different areas, providing reference for policy making.

The province's computer, communication and other electronic equipment manufacturing industries saw their added value reach 9.3 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in 2016, about nine times that in 2011.