China-SCO Forum on Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo (SCE) 2021 kicked off in Chongqing from August 23 to 25. "Intelligent Manufacturing Powerhouse" and "Renowned Smart City" have become new name cards of the city. Digital and intelligent development is necessary for peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Helped by big data intelligence, Chongqing boosts carbon emission reduction and contributes to the goal of carbon neutrality.

As a globally leading consultation agency on urban and industrial development, Cushman & Wakefield released the White Paper on Developments of Smart Manufacturing in Chongqing under the Background of Carbon Neutrality, which is based on the dynamic balance of economic growth and low-carbon development, focuses on innovation and iteration of the manufacturing industry, highlights the progress made by Chongqing and demonstrates the achievements obtained by the city when implementing the innovation-driven strategy led by big data intelligence, in the context of green and sustainable development.

Balance economic growth and carbon emission reduction

The White Paper points out that in response to the trend of "AI+," smart manufacturing relies on big data, Industrial Internet, artificial intelligence, and other next-generation information technologies to effectively support the seamless connection of information related to all production factors covering the whole industrial and value chains, vigorously upgrade production management efficiency, and reduce resource consumption. Smart manufacturing has acted as a new equilibrium point between productivity improvement and environmental protection, stimulating new progress in carbon emission reduction and driving the achievement of carbon neutrality.

"Developing smart manufacturing is a key avenue for Chongqing to realize energy conservation and emission reduction and accomplish carbon neutrality. Only by injecting momentum into manufacturing with smart technologies to cut costs and improve efficiency can Chongqing make coordinated progress in economic growth and ecological protection." According to Wei Xiaolong, General Manager of Cushman & Wakefield Chongqing Branch, introducing smart technologies has emerged as a key development trend of Chongqing's manufacturing over the past years. As a traditional industrial base with a long history, Chongqing has seen smart manufacturing as a starting point of supporting green development, driving the rapid development of emerging industries, and providing green technology innovations.

Smart manufacturing makes fruitful results

The White Paper points out that to accomplish carbon neutrality, China has been deepening the transition in industrial structure and advancing the reform of smart manufacturing over recent years. Thanks to these efforts, there has been a constant decrease in industrial energy consumption, and carbon emissions by manufacturing have maintained negative growth, realizing win-win results in economic growth and environmental protection. To actively respond to the national strategy, Chongqing has seen smart manufacturing as a starting point of supporting green development. Specifically, Chongqing will cultivate and strengthen seven industrial clusters, including equipment, materials, biology, and medicine, by relying on the two pillar industries of electronics and automobiles. Meanwhile, Chongqing will promote the transition of manufacturing towards smart, green, and people-centered development. With the two-pronged efforts, Chongqing aims to realize the mutual enhancement of high-quality development and sustainable development of manufacturing.

Chongqing boasts a solid manufacturing industrial foundation. In the city, there are 31 manufacturing categories, of which some fields exhibit strong competitiveness and the industrial clusters of automobile and electronics are two major pillars. Taking SCE as a carrier, Chongqing has made a big push to implement the action plan for the innovation-driven development strategy led by big data intelligence. This move has attracted many leading smart enterprises to Chongqing, speeding up Chongqing's effort to build complete industrial ecology.

As stated in the White Paper, Chongqing has made remarkable progress in implementing the action plan for the innovation-driven development strategy led by big data intelligence. According to the 2019 World Intelligent Manufacturing Center City Potential List, Chongqing ranked 20th in the list and, in terms of the output value of smart manufacturing, among the top 4 in China. From 2016 to 2020, Chongqing's strategic emerging manufacturing industry's added value had grown rapidly from 85,393 million yuan (about 13,182.9 million U.S. dollars) to 195,742 million yuan. With an average annual growth rate of 23.06% over the past five years, Chongqing ranks the top among major cities in China.

Zhang Yupeng, Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield in West China, said that at the beginning of the 14th Five-year Plan period (2021-2025), Chongqing would strive to embark on a new intelligent, high-end, green journey integrated, and regional manufacturing development at a higher level. It is believed that in the near future, Chongqing will become a more confident pioneer to lead the sprint of carbon neutrality in the manufacturing industry and shape the "twin engines" of high-quality economic growth and green low-carbon development for the manufacturing industry in the country.

The White Paper has been displayed on the plane with the theme of Smart Manufacturing for Chongqing's Brighter Future, which provides a professional reference for the traveling merchants to understand the developments of the smart manufacturing industry in Chongqing during the SCE.

The Smart Manufacturing for Chongqing's Brighter Future event was guided by the Information Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government, sponsored by Chongqing International Culture Association, co-supported by Cushman & Wakefield and China Express Airlines, and co-undertaken by Chongqing International Communication Center and CQNEWS. In a series of innovative communication ways, such as achieving the quick online popularity of short videos, creating an immersive atmosphere on a themed passenger cabin, and releasing the White Paper on Developments of Smart Manufacturing in Chongqing under the Background of Carbon Neutrality, the campaign strives to present the high-quality development achievements and investment and development potential of smart manufacturing in the city, improve its international influence, and help Chongqing to go global.