High-tech city gets head start in frontier technologies

In a bid to boost economic growth, Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi province has been working hard to promote the development of its virtual reality industry.

Since the local government announced in 2016 that it would build the country's first city-level VR industrial base, Nanchang has helped a VR cluster to emerge by strengthening planning, releasing supporting policies and setting up technological platforms.

VR is still an emerging industry in China, with great growth potential.

Last year, the country's VR industry was valued at 16 billion yuan ($2.31 billion), an increase of 164 percent year-on-year, according to a China News Service report.

Chinese research company CCID Consulting predicts that by 2020, China will deliver 8.2 million pieces of VR equipment and have more than 25million active users. By that time, the country's VR market is estimated to exceed 55 billion yuan and become the center of global VR growth.

"Nanchang pre-empted the development of the industry and started the construction of VR platforms in various sectors two years ago," said Min Yongbo, director of Nanchang industry and information committee's software and electronic information office.

During the past two years, the local government has offered the industry support to spur on innovation, attract capital and personnel, and develop an integrated industrial chain.

To cultivate professionals for the industry, Nanchang launched its first VR technology training courses in September last year.

Min said Nanchang's VR industry has made great progress since 2016.

According to official statistics, there are 60 VR startups in the city, most of which are focused on content production and industrial applications, with some hardware and software developers.

To date, Nanchang has attracted one Fortune Global 500 company - Lenovo Group - and two of China's top 500 enterprises - O-film and Tsinghua Unigroup. The Beijing Institute of Technology is also preparing to launch VR businesses and research centers in the city.

The industry's rapid development in Nanchang has been attributed to the city's strong industrial foundation in software R&D, creative design, service outsourcing and animation production. Last year, the city's electronic information industry was valued at 88.23 billion yuan and is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan this year, according to Min.

In addition, Nanchang has accumulated resources in the technical optical equipment, precision instruments, automatic control and machinery manufacturing sectors, which provide a solid foundation for VR development.

The 2018 World Conference on VR Industry is being held in Nanchang from Friday through Sunday, with global leading companies such as Qualcomm, Intel, Arm, Sony and HTC and China's IT companies Alibaba, JD, Huawei and Lenovo all expected to attend.

The conference is showcasing the latest VR technologies, products and applications, and will release new research reports and related policies through activities such as exhibitions, business "matchmaking" events and seminars, with the aim of creating a new reputation for Nanchang around the world.

caoyingying@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/19/2018 page12)