The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and seven other departments jointly issued the “14th Five-Year Plan for Intelligent Manufacturing Development” (with transcript of the press conference attached).

Recently, eight government departments—the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council—jointly released the “14th Five-Year Plan for Intelligent Manufacturing Development” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”).

Smart manufacturing is the primary focus for building a manufacturing powerhouse, and its level of development directly affects the quality of China’s manufacturing sector. Developing smart manufacturing plays a crucial role in consolidating the foundation of the real economy, establishing a modern industrial system, and achieving a new type of industrialization. Over the past decade, through collaborative innovation among industry, academia, research institutions, and users; demonstration applications by leading enterprises in various sectors; and coordinated promotion jointly driven by central and local authorities, China has made significant strides in the development of smart manufacturing. Its supply capacity has continued to improve, its supporting systems have been gradually refined, and its application and promotion efforts have yielded remarkable results, laying a solid foundation for further advancing systemic innovation and deepening practical applications.

The Plan is guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implements the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and successive plenary sessions of the 19th Central Committee, and, based on the new stage of development, comprehensively, accurately, and thoroughly applies the new development philosophy, fosters a new development pattern, deepens reform and opening-up, and coordinates development with security. Taking the deep integration of next-generation information technology with advanced manufacturing technologies as the main thread, the Plan will vigorously implement the Smart Manufacturing Initiative, focusing on enhancing innovation capacity, supply capacity, supporting capacity, and application levels. It will accelerate the establishment of a smart manufacturing development ecosystem, continuously promote the digital transformation, networked collaboration, and intelligent upgrading of the manufacturing sector, and provide strong support for fostering high-quality development of the manufacturing industry, accelerating the building of a manufacturing powerhouse, developing the digital economy, and establishing new competitive advantages in the international arena.

The “Plan” proposes that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and for a considerable time thereafter, the advancement of intelligent manufacturing should be grounded in the essence of manufacturing itself, closely aligned with its intelligent characteristics, and centered on processes and equipment, with data as its foundation. Relying on platforms such as manufacturing units, workshops, factories, and supply chains, we should build an intelligent manufacturing system that integrates virtual and physical worlds, is knowledge-driven, dynamically optimized, safe and efficient, and green and low-carbon, thereby driving the manufacturing sector toward digital transformation, networked collaboration, and intelligent evolution. By 2025, most large-scale manufacturing enterprises will have achieved digitalization and networking, and leading enterprises in key industries will have begun to apply intelligent technologies on a preliminary basis. By 2035, large-scale manufacturing enterprises will have fully embraced digitalization and networking, and leading enterprises in key industries will have essentially realized intelligentization.

Among these, the specific targets by 2025 are as follows: First, significant progress will be made in transformation and upgrading, with 70% of manufacturing enterprises above a designated size essentially achieving digitalization and networking, and more than 500 demonstration smart manufacturing plants leading industry development will be established. Second, supply capabilities will be markedly enhanced, with market satisfaction rates for intelligent manufacturing equipment and industrial software reaching over 70% and 50%, respectively, and more than 150 system solution providers with high professional standards and strong service capabilities will be cultivated. Third, the foundational support will be further strengthened, with the revision and formulation of over 200 national and industry standards completed, and more than 120 industrial internet platforms with significant industry and regional influence will be established.

The “Plan” closely focuses on building an ecosystem for the development of intelligent manufacturing and, from four aspects—innovation, application, supply, and support—outlines the key tasks for promoting intelligent manufacturing development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. First, accelerate systemic innovation and bolster new momentum for integrated development. Strengthen the leading role of scientific and technological innovation, promote cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral integration and innovation, wage tough battles to master critical core technologies and system integration technologies, build a comprehensive innovation network, and continuously enhance innovation efficiency. Second, deepen the promotion and application of intelligent manufacturing and open up new pathways for transformation and upgrading. Focusing on the needs of enterprises, industries, and regions for transformation and upgrading, build intelligent manufacturing systems around workshops, factories, and supply chains, carry out multi-scenario, full-chain, and multi-level application demonstrations, and foster and popularize new models of intelligent manufacturing. Third, strengthen independent supply capabilities and enhance new advantages of the industrial system. Relying on the robust domestic market, accelerate the development of equipment, software, and system solutions, cultivate emerging industries in intelligent manufacturing, speed up the adaptation of the supply system, and lead and drive the optimization and upgrading of the industrial system. Fourth, consolidate foundational support and establish new safeguards for intelligent manufacturing. Aiming at the development trends of intelligent manufacturing, improve and refine the foundational elements such as standards, information infrastructure, and security safeguards, and focus on building a complete, reliable, advanced, applicable, and secure support system.

To ensure the smooth implementation of all tasks, the “Plan” outlines six special initiatives: a campaign to tackle key technologies in intelligent manufacturing, a campaign to build demonstration smart factories, a campaign for intelligent transformation and upgrading of industries, a campaign for innovative development of intelligent manufacturing equipment, a campaign to achieve breakthroughs and enhance industrial software capabilities, and a campaign to lead with intelligent manufacturing standards. In addition, the Plan also includes four supporting measures: strengthening overall coordination, increasing fiscal and financial support, enhancing public service capacity, and deepening open cooperation.