By love-89.com Recently, during a field study in Zhejiang, we’ve discovered how numerous businesses are striving to reshape their competitive edge and invigorate economic vitality through initiatives like cloud adoption, advancing green transformations, and exploring new industrial pathways.
What does cloud adoption mean for enterprises? For traditional clothing brand Semir, moving to the cloud allows for more efficient internal operational data analysis. Their cloud security capabilities and compliance qualifications have supported rapid expansions into Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, photovoltaic brand Chint Aneng has enhanced the user experience for over a million households globally, resulting in fast business growth after switching to cloud solutions. Geely, an automotive company, has seen significant improvements in intelligent driving R&D efficiency through their collaboration with Alibaba Cloud to build a smart computing center capable of simulating smart driving behaviors equivalent to driving 100,000 kilometers in a single day.
Academician Wang Jian, director of the Zhijiang Laboratory, highlighted that integrating computing technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence with traditional industries can lead to innovative allocation of production factors and deeper industrial transformations, driving effective collaboration between computing power and economic development.
With the ongoing push for cloud adoption, many small and medium-sized enterprises are reaping the benefits. For instance, at Zhejiang Shantop Machinery Co., a warehouse manager scans barcodes with a tablet to handle inventory updates, while factory workers can “touch” a screen to operate machines without physical contact, providing real-time feedback on production conditions. General Manager Luo Zhunan noted that industrial software enables them to monitor production processes anytime, ensuring timely delivery of overseas orders.
Zhejiang is advancing its “One Number” development project focused on digital economic innovation, encouraging companies to utilize cloud solutions to enhance efficiency. Additionally, the province’s industrial internet platform is continuously evolving to support local enterprises. According to the provincial Economic and Information Technology Department, as of the end of 2023, Zhejiang had nurtured 300 provincial-level cloud enterprises and over 3,000 municipal and county-level cloud businesses.
Moreover, advanced computing facilities like the Wuzhen Supercomputing Center and Hangzhou Artificial Intelligence Computing Center are being established, with Zhejiang boasting over 150 data centers across various cities.
Turning towards sustainable development, we’ve visited the nationally recognized green factory, Tiantong Precision Electronics Co., in Jiaxing, Zhejiang. The facility is surrounded by trees, equipped with solar panels on its roof, and features pollution control systems that ensure zero emissions. In Zhejiang, the strategy of “turning green into gold” is proving effective for companies aiming for high-quality expansion and new production capabilities.
In recent years, through ongoing efforts in green, low-carbon, and energy-saving initiatives, companies like Jiuli Special Materials has succeeded in reducing natural gas consumption by 21%, electricity consumption by 10%, and water usage by 13% per ton of steel produced compared to 2019, significantly enhancing its carbon efficiency.
As part of its green transformation, Zhejiang firms are consistently expanding and innovating their industrial value chains. A notable example is the “Blue Cycle” project, which recently won the prestigious United Nations Earth Guardian Award, showcasing the collaboration of multiple stakeholders in converting marine waste into shared benefits.
One of the project partners, Veolia Huafei Polymer Technology in Huzhou, is transforming marine plastic debris into reusable materials. They developed a specialized production line to deeply clean and melt marine plastic waste, producing plastic granules that can be used in packaging, manufacturing, and textiles.
Following the path of green, high-quality development, Zhejiang continues to introduce new policies, initiatives, and technologies. Concepts like the “carbon account,” “carbon efficiency code,” and “double-carbon brain” are emerging to drive societal efforts in reducing carbon emissions. With financial support from the “carbon account” in Quzhou, Tiantong Group has pioneered a “digital low-carbon pig farm,” integrating precision control in a nine-story building to raise pigs while optimizing resource efficiency, significantly cutting down land use and carbon emissions.
Zhejiang’s industrial low-carbon transition is gaining momentum, with decreasing industrial energy consumption, water use, and carbon emission intensity. The aim is to establish 500 green low-carbon factories and 50 green low-carbon industrial parks by 2025, lowering energy consumption per unit of industrial output by over 16% from 2020 levels.
In terms of upgrading supply chains and industrial chains, Hangyang Group has been a key player since its founding in 1950. In light of the renewable energy trend, Hangyang is rapidly entering the hydrogen energy sector, focusing on the complete hydrogen chain from production to storage and usage, while continuously improving key equipment technologies.
Traditional industries still account for over 60% of Zhejiang’s output. To foster innovation within these sectors, the province is enhancing supply chain strength and value, focusing on developing future industries such as humanoid robotics, synthetic biology, and low-altitude economy.
Small and medium-sized enterprises, like Zhejiang Yicheng Transmission System Co. in Sanmen County, are equally committed to transformation. The company is nearing completion on new production lines for eco-friendly, durable rubber products, challenging foreign monopolies and offering competitive pricing.
Industrial enterprises play a crucial role in developing new production capabilities. Recent statistics indicate an 8.0% growth in industrial output for Zhejiang in the first half of this year, with significant growth reported across multiple sectors, including automotive, electronics, textiles, and chemicals.
With a focus on building world-class manufacturing clusters, Zhejiang’s Economic and Information Technology Department is actively fostering high-tech enterprises and specialized businesses to enhance competitiveness.
Reporting by Wang Junlu, Zhang Xuan, and Tang Tao
Design: Chang Qingtan
Coordination: Yang Jinxin, Qi Wenjuan, Li Yunan, and Xiao Leitai
Edited by Wang Qin