China’s MIIT Unveils 15th Five-Year Plan Industrial Blueprint: Six Emerging Pillars and Six Future Industries in Tandem — BigGo Finance

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) held a press conference on the 26th as part of its “Launching the 15th Five-Year Plan” themed series. Vice Minister Xin Guobin laid out the industrial development blueprint for the next five years, announcing accelerated efforts to build six emerging pillar industries—integrated circuits, aerospace, biomedicine, low-altitude economy, new energy storage, and intelligent robotics—while simultaneously promoting six future industries—quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and sixth-generation mobile communications (6G)—as new engines of economic growth.

Xin Guobin stated that the 15th Five-Year Plan period will focus on the goal of fundamentally achieving new industrialization, accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system anchored by advanced manufacturing. He noted that the objectives for the next five years are now clearly defined, and the key going forward lies in full implementation. The MIIT will prioritize optimizing the industrial structure, coordinating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the cultivation and expansion of emerging industries, and the forward-looking deployment of future industries, all while maintaining and developing a complete industrial system.

On industrial innovation and manufacturing capability enhancement, he emphasized strengthening original innovation and breakthroughs in critical core technologies, guiding innovation resources toward enterprises, and improving the enterprise-led industrial innovation ecosystem. At the same time, the ministry will accelerate the development of next-generation intelligent manufacturing, promoting the “intelligent transformation, digital conversion, and network connectivity” of the manufacturing sector—building smart factories and high-standard digital industrial parks.

6G Designated as Top Priority of the 15th Five-Year Plan

On next-generation mobile communications technology, Xin Guobin made clear that 6G development will be the top priority of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The MIIT will accelerate breakthroughs in 6G core technologies, continue conducting 6G technology trials and standards development, and promote the maturation of the 6G industry and ecosystem in preparation for commercial deployment.

In the broader information and communications technology landscape, the MIIT will accelerate the planning and construction of next-generation communications networks and computing power networks, promote the large-scale adoption of 5G and industrial internet across key industries, and strengthen network and data security capabilities to consolidate and enhance the competitive advantages and leading position of China’s information and communications industry.

Artificial Intelligence Pervades the Entire Manufacturing Chain

Xin Guobin revealed at the conference that China’s AI industry is thriving, having essentially permeated the entire value chain—from R&D and design to production, quality inspection, and operations and maintenance—accelerating industrial transformation and upgrading. As of the end of June, China’s intelligent computing capacity reached 2,185 EFLOPS, with more than 70 major computing corridors built around computing hubs.

He further noted that domestically developed open-source models have achieved innovative breakthroughs with high cost-performance ratios, becoming the preferred choice for a growing number of global users. In standards development, China has successfully formulated nearly 200 key AI standards and is organizing multiple cities to conduct AI ethics reviews and service practices.

The focus of AI development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period lies in solidifying the technological foundation. The MIIT will support R&D of high-end training chips, multimodal systems, algorithms, and other key technologies; develop a suite of high-quality “AI + manufacturing” open-source projects; and promote AI funds to channel financial resources and increase investment. At the application level, the ministry will distill high-value scenarios by industry, implement specialized action plans to cultivate application service providers, and roll out lightweight, low-cost, easy-to-deploy industry solutions.

Digital Identity System for Power Batteries Takes Effect

Addressing the large-scale retirement of new energy vehicle power batteries, Xin Guobin stated that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, relevant administrative regulations will be drafted, and joint inter-departmental enforcement actions will be launched to further regulate the recycling and utilization order. Authorities will implement a digital identity management system for power batteries, ensuring traceability of sources and destinations, with the goal of achieving comprehensive utilization of retired power batteries exceeding one million tonnes by 2030.

On the new energy vehicle product side, the MIIT will further improve supply quality, support key enterprises in intensifying technological research, and continuously enhance the low-temperature adaptability and durability of power batteries while improving the safety and reliability of autonomous driving. The ministry will also actively and prudently advance pilot programs for intelligent connected vehicle market access and road testing, as well as vehicle-road-cloud integration pilots, to deliver greener and smarter products to consumers.

Cybersecurity and Green Manufacturing in Parallel

Liu Yulin, Director of the MIIT’s Information and Communications Development Department, stated at the conference that the ministry will strengthen bottom-line thinking and safeguard high-quality development with high-level security. Specific measures include deepening the protection of critical information infrastructure and important data in the industry, enhancing security levels in key areas such as AI, industrial internet, and vehicle networking, organizing a three-year action plan to strengthen network operational security, and building a resilient, damage-resistant, and efficiently coordinated three-dimensional emergency communications support system.

On green manufacturing, Xin Guobin noted that China will achieve its carbon peak target during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The MIIT will adhere to a coordinated approach to industrial greening and the industrialization of green technologies, cultivating and building 500 zero-carbon factories and creating replicable, scalable construction models. The ministry will also promote raw material and fuel substitution and product structure optimization in traditional industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals, petrochemicals, chemicals, and building materials.

On SME policy, Xin Guobin disclosed that the 15th Five-Year Plan for promoting SME development, jointly formulated by the MIIT and multiple departments, will be officially released in the near future. Authorities will improve the tiered cultivation system for high-quality enterprises, nurture specialized and innovative SMEs, and develop more “little giant” enterprises and manufacturing single-item champions. In addition, efforts will be intensified to clear overdue payments to enterprises, continue implementing special actions to reduce enterprise burdens, strengthen legislative research in emerging fields such as the digital economy and AI, and improve the mandatory standards system in the industrial and information technology sectors.