Tech innovation makes global inroads

In a town in Andalusia, Spain, 62-year-old Diaz, a seasoned flower farmer with 36 years of experience, is leveraging agricultural drones to combat the severe impact of climate change on his flower enterprise.

The region has faced frequent high temperatures and heavy rains in recent years, leading to a surge in fungal growth during the flower-growing process. For Diaz, managing this manually is daunting, especially given his age. Here, technology offers a lifeline.

The drone, developed by XAG Co Ltd, a global leader in agricultural robotics based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, disinfects and fertilizes the flowers automatically using self-developed technologies, helping Diaz secure his livelihood.

This case was shared by Gong Jiaqin, co-founder of XAG, to illustrate the rapidly increasing global demand for agricultural robotics. This surge is driven by factors such as labor shortages, aging populations, climate change, and a growing global population.

Founded in 2007, XAG said it is dedicated to empowering agriculture through robotics, artificial intelligence, and new energy technologies, and has independently developed smart agricultural equipment and systems, including agricultural drones, autopilots, unmanned vehicles, intelligent irrigation valves, and smart agriculture management systems.

As of March, XAG had filed over 4,400 patent applications worldwide, including more than 1,300 invention patents, establishing itself as a leader in the global agricultural technology sector in terms of patent numbers.

Its products have reached nearly 70 countries and regions worldwide, ranking second in global sales in the agricultural robotics and agricultural drone industries.

XAG is one of the 74,000 high-tech enterprises in Guangdong, a province widely regarded as one of the world's most densely concentrated regions for technological innovation resources and one of the most active in industrial innovation.

Due to heavy investment in innovation, companies in Guangdong have enhanced their competitive competence in the global market and grown with their overseas customers.

In Huizhou, another city in Guangdong, emerging e-bike brand ADO has established a market network covering about 50 Asian and European countries and regions since its founding in 2021, according to Xie Senchu, CEO of Huizhou Ruijianxing New Energy Technology Co that runs the brand.

Notably, Germany and Japan, being the most mature markets globally for e-bikes, have seen ADO's foldable e-bike sales rank among the top three in the industry.

"We strengthen our presence in the European and Asian markets through our advanced technologies," Xie noted.

The brand, known for its lightweight design, has upgraded its core technologies of "belt drive, torque sensor, and automatic transmission" with smart features. These upgrades include AI intelligent sensing technology centered around LiDAR and gyroscopes, enhancing the intelligence and safety of riding.

The company now has 420 outlets in the overseas market, which is expected to rise to 1,000 in the next two years, according to the company plan. Meanwhile, the company began to approach the domestic market from the perspective of leisure tourism.

In the home appliance sector, compared with new players, TCL has existed as a famous Chinese brand for TVs and other electric home appliance products for around 40 years.

Also based in Huizhou, the general smart display unit of TCL Industries Holdings, the core business of the group, has adjusted the strategy to pursue a large-panel TV approach and prioritize global brand value to emerge from growth challenges in recent years.

TCL's TV business revenue has surged to nearly 60 billion yuan ($8.84 billion) from more than 30 billion yuan over the past five years, it said. The company ranks first globally in large panel and Mini LED shipments, and its market share is among the top three in over 20 countries.

Currently, the company has expanded its reach to over 160 countries and regions, facilitating simultaneous global development and market launches. About 70 percent of its products are supplying the overseas markets.

chenhong@chinadaily.com.cn