Shandong rolls out policy package to build digital powerhouse

Shandong province has introduced a package of policies to advance digital and intelligent development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), aiming to build a digital powerhouse with strong technology, industry, governance, infrastructure, and ecosystem.

The policy system is led by a 15th Five-Year Plan for building a digital powerhouse, supported by the implementation opinions on accelerating the high-quality development of the data industry and supplemented by an action plan on supporting the innovative development of AI OPCs, said Sun Ximin, vice-governor of Shandong province, at a news conference held by the Information Office of the Shandong Provincial People's Government in Jinan on Wednesday.

The plan outlines 46 tasks and 10 projects, focusing on six priority areas including cultivating and strengthening digital industries, deepening the integration of the digital and real economies, improving governance and service efficiency, strengthening the digital foundation, and fostering a sound digital ecosystem.

Shandong will build a national comprehensive pilot zone for data elements, deepen market-oriented reform of data element allocation, and promote all-round, full-chain integration of digital and intelligent technologies with the real economy.

With a complete range of real economy sectors, Shandong will accelerate digital upgrading in industry, agriculture, services, and marine industries to unlock new growth space for traditional sectors.

Wang Maoqing, deputy director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Shandong Province, said the province also regards cultivating AI one-person companies as an important measure to develop new quality productive forces and stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship.

We will make coordinated use of support policies such as vouchers for AI models, data, and computing power, and create startup spaces where entrepreneurs can move in with just their ideas, said Wang.

The policy package reflects Shandong's broader push to integrate digital and intelligent technologies into its industrial strengths. As one of China's provinces with the most complete industrial systems, Shandong has all 41 major industrial categories, providing real-world scenarios for the development and application of digital technologies.