China's smart manufacturing has achieved a historic leap from point breakthroughs to systemic integration, transitioning from single-machine intelligence to system-wide collaboration, said Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, at the 2025 World Intelligent Manufacturing Conference held in Nanjing on November 27.
In recent years, China's artificial intelligence (AI) technology has advanced rapidly, deeply integrating with advanced manufacturing industries and injecting strong momentum into the nation's manufacturing power strategy.
**AI Technology "Pilots" and "Empowers" Manufacturing Upgrades** On November 27, at the 2025 World Intelligent Manufacturing Conference, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and five other departments officially announced the first batch of 15 pilot-level smart factory cultivation candidates. The selected companies span key industries such as equipment manufacturing, raw materials, electronics, and consumer goods.
The pilot level represents the highest tier in the smart factory gradient cultivation initiative. According to MIIT, this initiative aligns with the digital transformation action plan for manufacturing and the "14th Five-Year Plan" for intelligent manufacturing development, injecting new momentum into industrial upgrades and technological innovation while advancing manufacturing toward higher-end, smarter, and greener development.
Nanjing Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. was among the first batch of pilot-level smart factory candidates. The company has deeply integrated AI technology with steel production processes, developing intelligent algorithms for applications such as visual inspection, process optimization, quality prediction, and equipment maintenance. "We have completed a full-process digital and intelligent transformation from 'point' to 'system,'" said Li Jinyan, Dean of the AI Research Institute at Nanjing Iron and Steel.
AI is becoming a pivotal technology in current scientific and industrial development. On November 26, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Industrial Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, jointly established by CAS, Jiangsu Province, and Nanjing City, was officially inaugurated in Nanjing. The institute will undertake full-chain innovation tasks in industrial AI, promoting AI-driven high-quality development in manufacturing.
From technology to industry, AI is flourishing in China. MIIT reported that the country has built over 7,000 advanced-level and more than 500 excellence-level smart factories, significantly reducing product defect rates and shortening R&D cycles.
**"Internationalization" Drives Win-Win Cooperation in Smart Manufacturing** At the concurrent World Intelligent Manufacturing Exhibition, leading global companies showcased cutting-edge solutions, attracting numerous visitors.
Germany-based Phoenix Contact Nanjing Co., Ltd. displayed its PLCnext+ wireless solutions and high-performance, flexible IPC solutions. "We are committed to providing forward-thinking innovations for comprehensive electrification, networking, and automation in economic sectors and infrastructure," said a booth representative, noting active engagement from industry professionals.
The exhibition featured 456 companies from 21 countries and regions, including Germany, the U.S., and Denmark. For the first time, an international special exhibition zone was set up to showcase globally leading smart manufacturing technologies and solutions, fostering cross-border exchanges and applications.
International cooperation in smart manufacturing has become routine. On November 26, the China-France Future Industry Cooperation Forum, co-hosted by MIIT's International Economic and Technical Cooperation Center and Nanjing's Investment Promotion Bureau, was held in Nanjing to advance projects in smart manufacturing and new energy. The same day, Nanjing's Xuanwu District government and France's Dassault Systèmes held a forum to discuss innovation pathways for high-end equipment driven by AI.
Beyond industrial collaboration, international cooperation in standards and technology is also thriving. MIIT noted that China's smart manufacturing equipment, industrial software, and system solutions sector has exceeded 4.5 trillion yuan in total scale.
**Deepening Smart Manufacturing Initiatives to Build a Manufacturing Powerhouse** As AI and advanced manufacturing technologies converge, new trends are emerging in smart manufacturing. Industry leaders believe AI will permeate all stages of manufacturing, from R&D to production and services.
"Next-generation AI is forming a powerful engine for economic and social development," said Zhou Ji, Honorary Chairman of the International Intelligent Manufacturing Alliance and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He emphasized that China's manufacturing sector will transition from digital transformation to intelligent upgrading.
China CITIC Group, a long-term player in finance and advanced manufacturing, is driving deep integration between technological and industrial innovation. General Manager Zhang Wenwu stated that CITIC will strengthen AI applications in material design, smart operations, and green development, fostering intelligent upgrades across the industrial chain and accelerating the cultivation of new productive forces.
Vice Minister Xin Guobin affirmed MIIT's commitment to open cooperation and innovation, leveraging AI to empower new industrialization. Smart manufacturing remains the focal point for building a manufacturing powerhouse, with efforts concentrated on systemic breakthroughs, gradient cultivation of world-leading smart factories, and global consensus on standards to foster an open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial ecosystem for smart manufacturing development.