Dongguan city in Guangdong province, historically known as the "World's Factory," is no longer content with its role as a manufacturing workshop. The city has set its sights on becoming a "Global Intelligent Manufacturing Center." On May 7th, local authorities held a press conference to unveil the "Dongguan Global Intelligent Manufacturing Center Construction Master Plan (2026-2030)." This comprehensive plan aims to drive the transformation of the city's manufacturing sector towards high-end, intelligent, and green development, with the goal of establishing a globally influential hub for smart manufacturing.

As a renowned international manufacturing city, Dongguan boasts a sound industrial system and a complete industrial chain, covering over 80% of major industrial categories. It is home to four national-level advanced manufacturing clusters, solidifying its position as a vital global production base. In recent years, a range of Dongguan-made products, including AI-powered glasses, smartwatches, and printed circuit boards, have been deeply integrated into international supply chains. This integration has laid a solid foundation for the city's transition from large-scale manufacturing to intelligent production.

The master plan outlines a focus on two primary directions: technological innovation and industrial upgrading. It emphasizes seizing three key opportunities: rapid iterations in AI technology, the restructuring of global supply chains, and coordinated development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The strategy is built on four pillars: new industrialization, the integration of "AI + manufacturing," integrated development within the Shenzhen metropolitan area, and the vision of "Intelligent Innovation, Quality Products, Harmony, and Livability." The plan aims to strengthen five core capabilities: leadership in key technologies, full-process intelligent manufacturing, supply of high-end intelligent products, global resource allocation, and industrial ecosystem integration. These will be achieved through the implementation of six major key projects encompassing 20 specific tasks.

The six key projects include: 1. The AI Empowerment for Manufacturing Project, which aims to develop over 50 large-scale industrial vertical models to drive intelligent transformation. 2. The Industrial Capability Leap Project, involving the execution of no fewer than 60 major scientific and technological projects and the creation of over 200 benchmark scenarios for "AI + manufacturing." 3. The Brand Enhancement Project, focusing on accelerating innovation in new terminal products like AI phones, AI wearables, AI glasses, and AI companion toys, and cultivating a group of globally recognizable domestic trendy brands. 4. The Enterprise Cultivation and Strengthening Project, which will support leading companies in evolving into platform-based entities, establish an OPC intelligent manufacturing service base, and foster "hidden champion" firms. 5. The Global Collaborative Innovation Project, emphasizing deep cooperation with Shenzhen to build a high-end manufacturing collaboration system between the two cities. It also supports advantageous industries in establishing overseas bases, R&D, and marketing networks to enhance brand globalization, and aims to lead or participate in formulating over 20 international standards for intelligent manufacturing. 6. The Industrial Ecosystem Expansion Project, which involves accelerating the deployment of intelligent computing centers and achieving comprehensive coverage of 5G-Advanced and 10-gigabit optical networks to build first-class new infrastructure.

City officials stated that the shift from "World's Factory" to "Global Intelligent Manufacturing Center" is not merely a change in name. It represents a profound reshaping of the city's industrial DNA, a fundamental change in the logic of manufacturing development, an overall elevation of value benchmarks, and a strategic reorientation of its global positioning. Over the next five years, leveraging its complete industrial system, a pioneering and innovative spirit, and the opportunities presented by Greater Bay Area synergy, Dongguan will dedicate itself to building a world-renowned city of intelligent manufacturing.