The Government Sets the Tone, a Regional Industrial Reshuffle Begins

Six Major Future Industries: Who Is Accelerating Breakthroughs?

On March 20th, Suzhou, known as the “Strongest Prefecture-Level City,” announced at the Suzhou Business Conference the top ten emerging industries and the top ten future industries to focus on in the next phase, signaling a clear move to concentrate strengths and open new competitive tracks.

Recently, the national “14th Five-Year Plan” explicitly stated the goal of targeting key future development areas, building a full-chain cultivation system for future industries, and promoting quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and sixth-generation mobile communication as new economic growth points.

Since the term “future industries” was first proposed in 2024, government work reports have continued to emphasize this focus for three consecutive years. The latest expression, “building a full-chain cultivation system for future industries,” indicates that these disruptive industries have entered a new stage of development.

As Zheng Shanjie, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, pointed out, these industries are on the brink of technological breakthroughs; today’s future industries could become tomorrow’s new pillars of the economy.

Opportunities are unprecedented. For local governments, whether they can quickly identify their position and gain a competitive advantage in the new round of industrial competition will determine their future fate. Who is speeding up breakthroughs in the regional landscape of these six future industries?

01

“Blooming Everywhere” Type

Representative Industry: Embodied Intelligence

Among the six key future industries prioritized nationally, embodied intelligence is undoubtedly the hottest track right now. According to incomplete statistics, at least 21 provinces across China explicitly mentioned “embodied intelligence” or “robots” in their 2026 government work reports, making it a fiercely contested industry field.

Meanwhile, all 31 provinces have deployed in AI and intelligent economy-related fields, aiming to seize opportunities in the new round of competition.

This “blooming everywhere” pattern reflects the unique attributes of the embodied intelligence industry: long supply chains, diverse technological routes, and broad application scenarios. The multi-path exploration around embodied intelligence is accelerating.

Industry insiders predict 2025 as the “mass production year” for humanoid robots. According to the latest report from global tech research firm Omdia, Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers lead globally, with the top six shipment volumes in 2025 all held by Chinese companies, including Shanghai-based Zhiyuan and Fourier, which have entered the top ten worldwide.

In the industry view, Shanghai is the “easiest and fastest city for mass production” of embodied intelligence domestically.

It is estimated that core components for humanoid robots, as well as unseen data and control algorithms, can be fully supplied within a 150 km radius centered on Shanghai. The leading hardware supply chain in the Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai’s long-standing AI industry foundation, and talent advantages are all accelerating the “Shanghai license” embodied intelligence mass production.

Building on this, Shanghai further proposed to implement the “AI+” initiative, strengthening infrastructure for computing power, industry-specific datasets, and vertical models, promoting widespread use of new intelligent terminals and agents. Nationwide, embodied intelligence is entering a critical phase from technological validation to commercialization—when the robot’s flexibility reaches practical levels, the key competition will be about who can “get the work done” more effectively.

At the Guangdong “First Spring Conference” this year, Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee Huang Kunming emphasized the need to “put embodied intelligence into use,” sending a clear signal. Prior to that, the “Guangdong AI Empowering High-Quality Manufacturing Development Action Plan (2025–2027)” explicitly called for accelerating the creation of a globally influential demonstration zone for “AI + manufacturing.”

It’s clear that as a major manufacturing province, Guangdong focuses on application demonstration and promotion—its manufacturing sector accounts for about 1/8 of the national total, with all 31 manufacturing categories and ten trillion-yuan-level industry clusters like new electronic information, providing a rich “test ground.”

From the government work report, while many regions are still in the “layout” or “cultivation” stage regarding embodied intelligence, some provinces like Guangdong have already targeted more specific tracks. For example, Guangdong aims to “accelerate the high-level application of AI across all fields and regions,” cultivating large models for vertical sectors and scene-specific small models, and building embodied intelligence training platforms.

Additionally, the Shandong provincial government report proposed “building embodied intelligence robot training systems,” while Zhejiang explicitly supports the creation of national AI application pilot bases for embodied intelligence.

Beijing is shifting focus to scene openness. According to the recently issued “Action Plan for Technological Innovation and Industry Cultivation of Embodied Intelligence (2025–2027),” application scenarios such as research and education, automotive manufacturing, and commercial retail will be opened in phases, prioritizing the deployment of 10,000 embodied robots, cultivating trillion-yuan industry clusters, and exploring applications in elderly care and household services.

02

Feature-Based Breakthrough Type

Representative Industries: Biomanufacturing, Hydrogen Energy

It must be noted that future industries have long incubation cycles, high risks, and strong uncertainties, requiring tailored and rational deployment based on local conditions.

From another perspective, future industries are not exclusive to major economic provinces; other regions can also leverage their industrial endowments to achieve distinctive breakthroughs.

For example, Heilongjiang, with abundant agricultural raw materials, has become an important player in China’s biomanufacturing sector. In 2024, the Suiha Daqi biomanufacturing cluster officially joined the “national team,” becoming the only national-level advanced manufacturing cluster in biomanufacturing.

Data shows that during the 14th Five-Year Plan, Heilongjiang’s key biomanufacturing enterprises grew from fewer than 80 to 194, with output exceeding 100 billion yuan and an average annual growth rate over 10%. The Heilongjiang provincial government report this year plans to accelerate bioeconomy development, launching a new “Double Hundred Project” for bioeconomy, with key industries continuing to grow revenue by over 10%.

Similarly, in biomanufacturing, provinces like Chongqing, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia are actively deploying. Chongqing’s government report mentions “establishing Chongqing Biomanufacturing Research Institute and supporting the development of the Chongqing International Bio-City innovation drug ecosystem”; Yunnan aims to “cultivate biomanufacturing industrial parks”; Hainan highlights “marine biomanufacturing.”

Another promising future industry based on regional resources is hydrogen energy.

As early as the “14th Five-Year Plan,” hydrogen energy was included in forward-looking planning for future industries. Statistics show that at least 23 provinces explicitly mentioned this industry in their 2026 government work reports, with over 20 provinces having medium- and long-term plans for hydrogen energy over the next 5 to 10 years.

Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen cannot be directly extracted but must be produced from water or fossil fuels, making resource endowment crucial for industry layout.

Among many provinces, Jilin has the most detailed mention in its government work report this year.

It states that by 2025, flagship projects like “Green Power Hydrogen-Ammonia” in Songyuan will be completed and put into operation, with the country’s leading total capacity; Changchun, Songyuan, and Baicheng are selected as the first batch of hydrogen energy pilot zones; and the country’s first hydrogen-powered cultural tourism train has been successfully operated.

Recently, Jilin Party Secretary Huang Qiang experienced a hydrogen train during a survey, expressing the desire to “let hydrogen-powered city trains run across Jilin.”

As one of China’s nine major wind and solar power bases with over 10 GW capacity, Jilin’s abundant green energy resources, combined with its old industrial base, support a complete industry chain: FAW, CRRC Changchun, and other companies are deeply involved in hydrogen equipment manufacturing, while dense chemical industry clusters provide natural markets for green hydrogen. These advantages bolster Jilin’s confidence in aiming for the “Northern Hydrogen Valley.”

Notably, on March 16th, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other departments jointly issued a notice on “Carrying Out Pilot Projects for Comprehensive Hydrogen Energy Applications,” opening broader space for industry development. Experts see this as a major highlight—creating a “new track” for hydrogen energy industry development, expanding from mainly fuel cell vehicles to applications in steel, chemicals, shipping, and other industrial sectors, marking a shift from “single transportation demonstration” to “full-scenario large-scale commercial breakthrough.”

Some provinces have already made deployments. For example, Inner Mongolia’s government report emphasizes “strengthening coupling applications of green hydrogen with metallurgy, chemicals, and synthetic biology”; Gansu focuses on hydrogen equipment projects and proposes establishing flagship application scenarios.

03

Leading-Edge Industry:

Representative Industries: Quantum Technology, Nuclear Fusion, 6G, Brain-Computer Interfaces

Compared to other future industries, quantum technology, nuclear fusion, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G face extremely high technical barriers and talent requirements, currently limited to a few “leading players.”

In quantum technology, Anhui is a clear leader. The “2024 Global Future Industry Development Index” shows Anhui’s Hefei quantum industry ranks second globally, only behind San Francisco. Among the top 20 quantum companies worldwide, four are from China, three of which are from Anhui. By the end of 2025, Anhui’s quantum industry chain has surpassed 100 enterprises, the highest in the country.

Global quantum industrialization has entered a “sprint” stage. According to Anhui’s latest deployment, by 2026, they aim to build quantum computing R&D platforms and implement the “Thousand-Scene” quantum information initiative to accelerate application transformation.

In nuclear fusion, only Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan explicitly list it as a key development direction in their 2026 government reports.

This correlates with their core innovation resources: Anhui relies on the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Sichuan has a strong nuclear industry foundation and the Southwest Institute of Physics; Hubei benefits from Huazhong University of Science and Technology’s J-TEXT device and top disciplines.

Shanghai, known as the “Cradle of China’s Nuclear Power Industry,” continues to invest through capital. The Shanghai Future Industry Fund has invested in companies like Xinghuan Energy, Dongsheng Fusion, Yixi Technology, and China Fusion Energy, forming a relatively complete and diverse nuclear fusion industry chain.

The 6G industry also shows significant clustering effects. According to the 2026 government work report, only Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu explicitly mention 6G, all achieving notable results: Beijing’s small-scale experimental network was built first; Shanghai has formulated a 6G future industry cultivation plan; Jiangsu successfully established the world’s first 6G outdoor trial network.

Looking ahead to the “14th Five-Year Plan,” provinces like Guangdong, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan, and Heilongjiang have also signaled their deployment intentions, with regional competition in the 6G track continuing to expand.

In the brain-computer interface sector, key companies are mainly clustered in the Yangtze River Delta region, including BrainCo, Brain虎科技, 神念科技, and QiangNao Tech; other regions like Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Sichuan also gather a number of related enterprises supported by strong scientific research.

More provinces are eager to participate: Chongqing, Shandong, Shanxi, Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, Hainan, etc., have all announced plans for brain-computer interfaces in 2026, aiming to secure a position in this emerging track. The industry race that could reshape regional landscapes has only just begun.

(Disclaimer: The content and data in this article are for reference only and do not constitute investment advice. Please verify before use. Risks are assumed by the user.)

Reporter | Cheng Xiaoling, Liu Xuqiang

Editors | Duan Lian, Liu Yanmei, Yi Qijiang

Proofreader | Zhang Yiming

| Daily Economic News nbdnews Original Article |

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