Shanghai sets ambitious future industry goals for 2030

Shanghai announced a strategic goal on Saturday to become a globally influential leader in future industries by 2030 through cultivating and expanding a number of future industries and developing several strategic emerging industries.

Specifically, by 2027, the city plans to achieve breakthroughs in a series of cutting-edge, disruptive technologies, systematically develop a batch of future industry clusters, and nurture around 20 leading enterprises in the future industry ecosystem.

These goals were outlined in a document detailing 15 measures to accelerate the promotion of frontier technology innovation and the cultivation of future industries published by the municipal government.

Future industries, as defined by the municipal government, are those in the nascent or early stages of industrialization, characterized by their disruptive and forward-thinking nature. Shanghai's focus on future industries is part of its strategy to lead technological innovation and reshape industrial landscapes, thereby enhancing its global competitiveness, according to the government.

To implement the national directive on accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and promoting innovation in future industries, Shanghai's goals are perceived by experts as leveraging its existing strengths to expedite the cultivation of these sectors.

The Shanghai Science and Technology Commission said that the city has initiated a string of projects, including implementing plans for cultivating future industries like brain-computer interfaces, quantum computing, silicon photonics, and 6G technology. Additionally, the city has launched concept verification platforms for ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors and gene editing, alongside establishing 12 high-quality incubators and a future industry fund totaling approximately 15 billion yuan ($2.1 billion). 

Shanghai has kicked off constructing future industry clusters in fields like brain-inspired intelligence, silicon photonics, and brain-computer interfaces, to attract and gather innovative resources, the commission said.

The newly announced measures focus on six key areas: future manufacturing, future information, future materials, future energy, future space, and future health. The plan calls for targeted and layered development strategies to expand and strengthen sectors, including cell and gene therapy, brain-computer interfaces, and embodied intelligence.

The measures also clarify that Shanghai is poised to advance in quantum technology, controlled nuclear fusion, and regenerative medicine as well by tackling technical challenges, refining technology pathways, and verifying product feasibility.

"One key to these efforts is the creation of national-level future industry pilot zones, centered around future industry clusters," Qu Wei, deputy director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, said. These zones are being developed in districts of Pudong, Minhang and Yangpu, with tailored policies in funding, technological breakthroughs, major project implementation, and talent acquisition to support industry growth."