The journey of innovation in Xiong'an New Area is accelerating, with a powerful convergence of technology and industry taking shape. From late June, observations from a field visit revealed a dynamic hub where scientific achievements, supply chain components, and digital economy pioneers are gathering. Here, deep integration of technological and industrial innovation is fostering the robust growth of new quality productive forces. Beijing's research outcomes are finding a home closer than before, the aerospace information and satellite internet industry chain is being meticulously assembled, and the foundation for a digital twin city is enabling smart applications across the entire region. The 2025 Central Economic Work Conference outlined the expansion of the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center to encompass the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, marking a strategic upgrade from a single-city focus to a tri-regional powerhouse. According to Long Maogan, a senior engineer at the National Development and Reform Commission's Center for Urban Development and Reform, Xiong'an acts as a crucial adhesive, organically binding the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region into an efficient, synergistic industrial community, unlocking a combined effect where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Bridging the Gap: From R&D in Beijing-Tianjin to Manufacturing in Hebei

A visit to the pilot production base in Xiong'an's Science and Innovation Center revealed an assembly line for satellites operating with the smooth efficiency of a new energy vehicle production line. Dubbed the "nation's first assembly-line-style automated satellite mass production line," it commenced operations last October and promptly produced the area's first satellite, "Xiong'an No. 1." The timeline for Blue Arrow Hongqing (Xiong'an) Space Technology Co., Ltd. was remarkably swift: establishing a subsidiary in January 2025, starting construction in April, completing it in September, and launching production with its first satellite in October. Chen Ying, the company's head of public affairs, summarized this feat as "four milestones within the year." This pace reflects both the company's drive and the speed of development in Xiong'an. As the sole domestic satellite network solution provider with integrated satellite-rocket capabilities, Hongqing Technology covers the entire industrial chain from R&D and manufacturing to testing, launch, and service. "Xiong'an No. 1 represents a key achievement for Xiong'an in the aerospace information industry," Chen noted. The satellite is designed to validate core technologies including the Jinwu Hall electric propulsion system, Chiyu flexible solar arrays, and Baize integrated electronic systems, addressing bottlenecks in satellite platform power, energy, and computing. It is undergoing final pre-launch tests and is scheduled for launch within the year. Historically, the conversion rate of scientific and technological achievements from Beijing and Tianjin within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has been low, with many cutting-edge innovations migrating to the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta for commercialization. Long Maogan believes that with the expanded scope of the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center, Xiong'an New Area is leveraging its pivotal role to enhance its capacity for absorbing and transforming achievements from Beijing and Tianjin, effectively bridging their R&D with Hebei's manufacturing strengths. Strategically, Hongqing Technology has integrated into the coordinated development strategy for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, establishing a collaborative layout with its Beijing headquarters, Xiong'an pilot base, and multiple R&D centers. This structure connects regional innovation resources with industrial elements. As a pilot center, Xiong'an carries the core function of transitioning technology from verification to practical application. The center spans over 12,000 square meters, with the production line occupying about 3,000 square meters and an annual capacity exceeding 100 satellites. Hongqing's decision to locate this critical pilot phase in Xiong'an was deliberate. "Xiong'an New Area has designated aerospace information and satellite internet as one of its three future pillar industries. As a new area built from the ground up, it offers numerous application scenarios in urban governance, smart communities, and more that are ideal for satellite internet deployment," Chen explained, highlighting the path it provides for companies to achieve a complete product cycle. This wave of transformation is spreading across other sectors. At the Xiong'an Scientific and Technological Achievements Exhibition, Trading, and Transformation Center, an online platform has listed 2,846 technology projects, over 90% of which originate from relocated universities and research institutions. Meng Youtong, assistant general manager of Xiong'an Guochuang Center Technology Co., Ltd., revealed that over 260 technology achievement transactions were completed in the first half of this year, with aerospace information, satellite internet applications, and the integration of AI with vertical industries being the most active areas.

Cluster Effect: 69 Firms Converge on the Aerospace Frontier

Entering the Xiong'an Satellite Shared Testing Center, a massive white chamber commands attention. With a diameter of 6.6 meters and a depth of 10 meters, its interior space exceeds that of a standard classroom, capable of testing four satellites simultaneously. This thermal vacuum system simulates the extreme conditions of space, with temperatures ranging from a high of 150 degrees Celsius to a low of minus 100 degrees Celsius. Satellites endure days of alternating heat and cold within this 250-degree temperature range, undergoing rigorous testing for component and overall stability in this "space simulation chamber." The center is currently being calibrated and is expected to be operational in the third quarter, providing comprehensive "physical examinations" for up to 100 satellites annually—handling electrical, thermal, mechanical, and magnetic environmental tests in one location. Nearby, the Xiong'an Satellite Shared Intelligent Manufacturing Center has passed inspection and is in the handover process. "The 'intelligence' here refers to smart manufacturing!" emphasized operations manager Yang Jinshuo, pointing to the facility. The center utilizes "flexible information software + flexible hardware equipment" to enable co-production of different satellite models. Once completed, it will be capable of manufacturing various satellite types, including communication, remote sensing, navigation, and even AI-integrated satellites. Both platforms are publicly funded and serve as public service facilities. "Traditional satellite testing capabilities were mostly concentrated in aerospace research institutes, primarily serving national missions. With the booming demand in commercial aerospace, we are releasing these mature capabilities to create shared, market-oriented platforms," Yang stated. Xiong'an possesses a unique clustering advantage in aerospace information and satellite internet: it hosts the headquarters of both China Satellite Network Group (China SatNet) and the commercial satellite company of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. In October 2024, China SatNet officially relocated to Xiong'an, becoming the first central state-owned enterprise (SOE) headquarters to settle there, anchoring a critical link in Xiong'an's aerospace information industry chain. Notably, the testing center's capabilities are built to correspond with China SatNet's standards, meaning satellites tested there are better suited for integration into its network. Leveraging this unique concentration, the two shared platforms can serve both relocated enterprises and local industry needs. Yang disclosed that commercial aerospace companies from Xiong'an and across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are already approaching them to discuss testing requirements and jointly develop test plans. "Preliminary schedules for意向 orders post-Q3 this year are already taking shape." Today, the aerospace information and satellite internet industry chain stands as Xiong'an's first complete, innovation-led industrial chain. Li Peidong, deputy director of the Xiong'an New Area Reform and Development Bureau, reported that the area has attracted 69 companies and 9 innovation platforms in the aerospace information field. "For aerospace, go to Xiong'an" has become an industry consensus.

Digital Foundation Paves the Way, SOE Tech Firms Flock to Smart Xiong'an

From its inception, Xiong'an New Area was planned with three layers: an above-ground city, an underground city, and a cloud-based city. Regarding the "cloud city," Gao Yanli, chief engineer at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology's Industry and Planning Research Institute, first participated in Xiong'an's planning in 2017, focusing on the "Smart Xiong'an" component. At that time, the area was a blank slate, which presented an unprecedented opportunity: to plan and construct the digital city in parallel with the physical city. "We pioneered the concept of a 'digital twin city': simulating and analyzing in the virtual world to guide precise execution in the real world, making the virtual serve the real," Gao explained. Thus, Xiong'an became the birthplace of China's digital twin city concept. In 2021, "exploring the construction of digital twin cities" was incorporated into the national 14th Five-Year Plan outline, elevating it from a technical concept to a national strategy. The year 2023 marked a turning point. "Before, the technological pathway wasn't entirely clear," Gao noted. "In recent years, technologies like geographic information systems, 3D modeling, the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, and intelligent agents have rapidly matured, clarifying the path for digital twins." Xiong'an's construction pace has deeply synchronized with this technological wave. From driving the first pile, the area has embedded new technologies into its urban foundation: underground utility tunnels are woven with sensor networks, while the cloud-based "Digital Xiong'an" grows alongside the steel and concrete. This solid digital foundation is reflected in tangible data. Zhang Yingjie, deputy director of the Xiong'an New Area Industry, Information Technology, Science, Technology, and Data Bureau, reported that the area has built over 500 kilometers of digital roads and more than 5,000 smart buildings. Nearly 200 smart application scenarios have been developed across seven fields including transportation, governance, and livelihood, crystallizing into 52 innovative scenarios across ten major categories. This fertile ground is attracting flocks of digital intelligence pioneers. The city's trusted data space already hosts over 100 data merchants, listing more than 430 data products and achieving transaction closure in multiple scenarios. Among the companies migrating to Xiong'an, Topsec (Xiong'an) Cybersecurity Technology Co., Ltd. has settled in the Xiong'an Zhongguancun Science Park. This established cybersecurity firm was drawn by the digital vision of the "city of the future." "New-type digital cities offer numerous opportunities; cybersecurity can provide protection for almost all business systems," said Liu Jun, vice president of Topsec Technology Group. They see Xiong'an as a place to refine new security products and solutions, "finding new vitality and growth points for the company." What excites him even more is the concentrated arrival of large SOEs' digital technology subsidiaries. In his view, serving these key players in the digital industry chain is like obtaining a passkey to the national market. Topsec's strategic path clearly outlines a common choice for many tech firms putting down roots in Xiong'an: at the birthplace of the digital twin city concept, they find a pathway to nationwide innovation.