Internet-enabled innovations in traditional sectors have ushered a new era. In recent years, pharmaceuticals, perishables, grains and other traditional industries launched online shopping platform, which drives the Internet-based transformation of real economy.
"2018 Internet-enabled Industry Summit" held recently marked initiative of the District's efforts in developing an "Internet-based Sector Cluster" featuring trillions of RMB in both transaction and settlement via shared labs, supply-chain innovation funds ,"technology integration platforms" and other efforts to attract unicorns.
"Internet-enabling" is a new normal in traditional industries, which enables traditional industries such as manufacturing, agricultural, energy, logistics, transport and education to transform and upgrade by innovatively applying big data, cloud computing, smart terminal and other emerging info-technologies.
"The core of Internet is interaction, connectivity and openness. Integration and capacity upgrade could only be achieved by linking elements along the industry chain," added Liu Qing, deputy inspector of the Municipal Science and Technology Commission. "Internet-enabled" model is effective for industry integration and upgrade, and Shanghai should rely on technology innovations in new industry system development, Liu added.
The number of software and info service providers in Yangpu District has exceeded 1,000, with around 30,000 professionals and a total value of RMB 23.3 billion, owning to the rapid development of Internet in recent years. "With a solid industry development history and a cluster of research institutions and innovative businesses, the District needs to find a way to integrate traditional industry and innovation by applying Internet-related technologies," Zhao Liang, Deputy Mayor of the District. According to Zhao, the District is developing an Internet-enabled industry cluster to facilitate industry transformation and co-development of the whole industry chain by favorable governmental policies, consulting services, technical services, PAAS platform, supply chain settlement fund and equity fund.
What are the district's strengths and available supports in developing the above cluster? In terms of policy support, the District attracts businesses by providing subsidies to qualified units in terms of registration, location, operation, talent, R&D, innovation, patent, financing, IPO and alliance. In terms of technical support, the Internet-enabled supply-chain finance shared lab will provide one-step, copy-able and interactive learning experience to practitioners by focusing on cutting-edge researches and innovative practices and inspire recognition and innovations.
Meanwhile, related agencies have entered into strategic agreements with 8 platforms including Xianyi and ChinaQpMall to co-develop vertical sector model platforms and 5 banks including China Construction Bank (Yangpu Branch) and Agricultural Bank of China (Wujiaochang Branch) to provide financial services to cluster members.
The District will develop a supply-chain financial settlement center in the cluster, "Supply-chain Settlement FoF" and "Internet-based Project Equity Fund" to serve the real economy and foster the development of unicorns.
Leveraging technology integration and innovation, the cluster will empower Internet-enabled industrial platforms to serve real industries, enable sector concentration, drive "innovation and entrepreneurship" and usher in a new era.