This photo taken on June 5, 2024 showcases a chip customized for big data appilication at the Nanjing International Semiconductor Expo. (CFP)

The Yangtze River Delta region has emerged as the most active area for data industry development in China, with the number of related enterprises accounting for 15.04% of the national total, according to the National Data Industry Map 2024, a research report recently released by the China Economic Information Service.

According to the report, the national data industry reached 2 trillion yuan in 2023, with five provincial-level regions achieving sales exceeding 150 billion yuan, including Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.

The report shows that the delta holds 430,000 valid invention patents in core sectors of the digital economy, representing 26.8% of the national total. This strength stems from high R&D spendings by companies as well as enhanced digitalization of public services, which helps businesses reduce costs.

As one of the national computing power hubs, the delta places significant emphasis on expanding computing capacity, with Zhejiang leading the regional in this aspect.

The delta region has been actively exploring broader data application scenarios. For example, Shanghai prioritizes 13 key initiatives, including smart factories, intelligent connected vehicles, and international data services. Zhejiang aims to integrate online and offline data channels to unlock greater data value and enhance data supply. Jiangsu has outlined key tasks for the data industry’s development, setting an ambitious goal of achieving an annual growth rate of over 20%.