On September 20th, the 2026 "AI in Action" application experience season's main event opened at the Zhongguancun Software Park International Conference Center. During the session, the Shangdi Subdistrict of Beijing's Haidian District unveiled its "Shangdi Sci-Tech Innovation District" brand concept and construction plan, releasing a first batch of six urban sci-tech scenario recruitment lists that call on companies to offer AI-powered solutions for urban governance challenges.
Reports indicate that Shangdi in Haidian is one of China's earliest electronic information industry bases, starting in 1991 and accumulating over 20,000 companies across more than three decades to form a complete AI industrial chain. Zhang Dongchuan, Party Secretary of the Shangdi Subdistrict, noted that the area is building on its current industrial strengths to push forward comprehensive renewal, using slow-traffic system development, wall removal and greening projects, building renovations, and better living amenities to shift Shangdi from a production-focused space into an innovation-oriented urban zone.
The Shangdi Sci-Tech Innovation District initiative represents the district-level implementation of building a world-leading science park, centered around the Shangdi Information Industry Base and Zhongguancun Software Park. It links nearby office towers and commercial zones to create an open innovation hub that supports startup incubation, industry collaboration, and results showcasing.
At the opening ceremony, Jiang Dakuan, Director of the Shangdi Subdistrict Office, released a comprehensive action plan for the sci-tech innovation district, outlining construction arrangements across three key areas: spatial support, service empowerment, and brand events. On the spatial front, the plan leverages projects including the new global headquarters of Didi, the new headquarters of Zhipu AI, the Zhongguancun Quantum Incubator, and the Haikai AI Industrial Park to bring together AI and healthcare industries, upgrade existing spaces, improve work-live balance, and enhance the public environment.
On services, the subdistrict will integrate over 30 incubation platforms into a tiered incubation system, operate the "Shangdi UPSIDE" competition, advance the corporate co-growth program with enterprises, build a "Shangdi Innovation Exhibition Center" in partnership with leading companies, and set up dedicated teams to support business development. Talent support will come through "Alumni Home" and OPC entrepreneurial communities, alongside regular AI public education activities. In terms of branded events, the plan establishes annual, quarterly, and monthly activity mechanisms, with continuous hosting of the "AI in Action" experience seasons, sci-tech competitions, and industry matchmaking forums. More than one hundred companies have already joined this AI application experience season.
To turn technological advances into real-world results and enhance fine-grained urban management, the Shangdi Subdistrict issued its first urban sci-tech scenario recruitment list at the event, creating a two-way pathway between technology deployment and public services. All six scenarios come directly from on-the-ground urban management needs: intelligent water surface cleaning at Qinghe Zhizhou, smart road sweeping on Chuangye Road, intelligent security patrols at Qinghe Zhizhou Park, automated hedge trimming on Shangdi West Road, digital inspection at Shucun Park, and smart high-branch trimming at the Shangdi South Entrance greenbelt.
The Shangdi Subdistrict will bring in intelligent robots and automated equipment to solve problems such as low efficiency, high operational risk, and limited coverage in traditional manual work. This approach bridges the gap between AI technology and everyday public services, ensuring innovations move smoothly from lab to street.