Ningbo is set to host its highly anticipated annual intelligent economy event from September 11 to 13 (Friday to Sunday), as the 16th Smart City and Intelligent Economy Expo (referred to as 智博会) opens at the Ningbo International Convention and Exhibition Center. With the theme "AI Transformation, Intelligence for the Future," this year's expo spans five specialized halls, covering over 30,000 square meters of exhibition space and featuring more than 20 supporting activities across four major sectors, showcasing cutting-edge technologies, innovative products, solutions, and real-world applications. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a parent eager to expose your kids to new experiences, a corporate representative hunting for opportunities, or a professional keen on the latest AI trends, there's something for everyone at this year's expo. Here's an early preview to help you plan your visit.

Human-Machine Synergy: Robots Take on Real-World Jobs

This year, the explosive growth of the embodied intelligence sector has brought AI from the cloud into everyday life. Hall 1's "Human-Machine Synergy" exhibition zone brings together nearly a dozen leading companies, including 云深处, 爱芯元智, 博登智能, and 柏奥尼克, showcasing a full-chain display of capabilities from robotic "brains" and "cerebellums" to complete machines. For the first time, the expo features a cluster of core components for embodied intelligence. Companies such as 舜宇光学, 中大力德, 敏实集团, and 均胜电子 have jointly created a physical "exploded view" of humanoid robot components, breaking down motors, reducers, joints, and control systems piece by piece for close inspection. This industrial foundation is exactly what gives Ningbo its confidence in developing humanoid robots.

These robots aren't just for show—they're ready to tackle real tasks and become "life companions." 云深处科技's quadruped robot can operate stably in environments ranging from -20°C to 55°C, handling power inspections and emergency rescue missions. 华翔启源's P30 quadruped robot is deployed for industrial inspections and campus security. 甬华创芯中心's "量子一号" can handle household chores like cleaning and tidying. Meanwhile, 柏奥尼克's humanoid robot entertains visitors by making popcorn, brewing coffee, and putting on performances, closing the gap between technology and people.

Embodied Intelligence in the Factory

In Hall 2's "Embodied Intelligence in the Factory" zone, over 30 robots demonstrate the intelligent vision of an automated assembly line. 浙江人形机器人创新中心 enables robots to perform flexible material tasks like attaching pockets to clothing. The 慈溪人形机器人训练中心 (the first of its kind built on the open-source HarmonyOS foundation in China) teams up with 乐聚智能 to bring four application scenarios, including parts quality inspection and warehouse sorting. 智昌集团's robots, equipped with China's first "sensing-computing-control integrated AI controller," independently complete material handling and loading tasks through 3D vision and reinforcement learning.

Smart Lifestyle: Interactive Products for Everyday Living

Hall 3's Integrated Smart Product Experience Center will display nearly 200 consumer-facing intelligent products. More than 50 companies, including 科大讯飞, 央广云数, and 火花机器人, are bringing wearable devices, smart robots, smart home solutions, intelligent mobility, digital entertainment, and other "digital-savvy items" for on-site experience and purchase. The innovative 千问 AI eyewear is the first to feature adjustable image-distance technology, solving the industry's common problem of motion sickness with extended wear. 蓝科电子's "translating glass screen" enables real-time translation across multiple languages. 演犀科技 introduces the world's first expression-capable robot, delivering maximum "emotional value." Additionally, 三刃特科技 debuts a bespoke, million-yuan-level all-terrain off-road racing vehicle, described as "Ningbo's own four-wheeled version of Zhang Xue."

Beyond these gadgets, 贝发集团's AI-powered stationery and 海伦钢琴's AI-enabled pianos showcase the latest results of AI empowering traditional manufacturing. 科大讯飞's smart blackboard makes math and science education more visual and accessible. 新文三维's VR experience "Ice Age" transports visitors back to the glacial era. And 孚邦科技's lower-limb exoskeleton robots cover the full spectrum of rehabilitation training, helping people with mobility challenges stand up again. For families with kids, the must-visit booth is China Telecom's "Star Intelligent Body · Token Carnival," where, with no coding background required, visitors can use simple typing or voice commands to have AI generate a fully playable web game in minutes.

Model-Data Resonance: AI Powering Diverse Industries

If large models are AI's "brain," then data is the "lifeblood" that nourishes it. This year's expo debuts the "Model-Data Resonance" zone, showcasing how the synergy between "models + data" empowers various industries. Upon entering, visitors first encounter 蓝卓's supOS industrial operating system, which connects equipment data with business systems to truly "activate" industrial data. 数益工联 introduces intelligent agents for smart scheduling and manufacturing AI assistants, converting veteran expertise into algorithms. 天河智造 debuts its AI+ design agent, making domestic CAD software both autonomous and user-friendly.

In digital infrastructure, 德塔森特 unveils a new AI liquid-cooling smart computing unit that integrates high-performance computing modules with intelligent scheduling systems, laying the foundation for AI transformation across industries. For enterprise management, 用友科技 releases an agent matrix covering 63 vertical domains, spanning finance, HR, and supply chain, pushing corporate management from "relying on experience" to "relying on algorithms." Additionally, China Mobile will showcase its "MOMA" AI model super-portal, air-space-ground integrated communications, and AI-driven new industrialization results. China Unicom will highlight its intelligent medical applications, including a fundus camera for medical diagnosis, an AI "pediatrician," a digital twin of the Forbidden City, and a word platform featuring deep integration of AI with physical industries.

The expo also features a range of smart solutions for governance and public services, including AI-assisted administrative approval, real-time city brain scheduling, intelligent fire alerts, low-altitude economy inspections, full-chain agricultural traceability, digital water resource management, and AI-assisted diagnosis using traditional Chinese medicine models. These applications illustrate AI's transformative potential in government services, urban governance, emergency safety, agriculture and water management, healthcare, culture, and tourism.

Industry Ecosystem: Collaborating for a Shared Future

AI development is never a solo endeavor. This expo is dedicated to creating a platform that bridges technological innovation with industrial transformation, accelerating the commercialization of research results and serving the growth of emerging industries.

A first-of-its-kind "AI OPC Innovation Market" brings together nearly 20 startup communities and over 30 micro-teams, covering sectors such as digital creativity, cross-border e-commerce, and 3D printing, providing early-stage teams with a stage for showcase and collaboration. Seven industrial parks, including the Ningbo Software Park, 甬江 Software Industry Park, and 云智 Base, will present their unique innovation achievements and incubation paths under a "one park, one specialty" approach. In the capital empowerment zone, financial institutions such as 甬元基金 and 开投私募 will present their investment projects and capital-driven innovations in areas like smart energy, embodied intelligence, and quantum computing, facilitating direct connections between funds and projects.

Notably, this expo also establishes an International Digital Intelligence Cooperation Zone. Exhibitors from countries like Canada (AI-based health mirror), Pakistan (intelligent explosive ordnance disposal robot), Cameroon (AI digital employee), Russia (AIGC digital human), and France (solar-plus-storage solutions) will showcase their offerings. Through a model of "international corporate display + Chinese market access + overseas market expansion," Ningbo's AI "friend circle" is set to grow even wider.

Interested residents can visit for free at the Ningbo International Convention and Exhibition Center from 10:00 to 17:30 on September 11, 9:00 to 17:30 on September 12, and 9:00 to 14:00 on September 13, unlocking a world of possibilities for future living.