Shanghai has established a full-stack AI industry chain spanning basic algorithms, core chips, smart software and hardware products, and industry applications, contributing "Shanghai Experience" to China's innovative AI development.

Achievements in 2025

​Industry Support

Boosting Full-stack Industry Chain Innovation

• Promoting the upgrade of large AI foundation models and the maturation of embodied AI technology;
• Speeding up cross-sector integration and innovative application of vertical models and multi-agent systems;
• Accelerating the development of AI for Science;
• Promoting the application of AI in diagnosis and treatment assistance, health management, hospital operation and medical insurance services.

Diversified Application Scenarios

• Shanghai will promote intelligent application adoption in more than 5,000 manufacturing enterprises and the establishment of more than 500 advanced intelligent factories;
• 58 AI application scenarios were launched;
• More than 500 solutions were developed;
• Shanghai ranked first in China with 18 application scenarios listed in the "100 AI-empowered Scenarios" of the National Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Application Pilot Zone.

Targeted Industry Support

• A 60 billion yuan ($8.96 billion) national-level AI fund was set up in Shanghai, in synergy with a 22.5 billion yuan municipal-level AI leading fund;
• China's first unified public service portal for corpus operations went live;
• Various computing power vouchers, large AI model vouchers, and corpus vouchers have been issued, totaling 1 billion yuan;
• The Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai) Computing Power Interconnectivity Platform was established.

Highlight Elements

Industry Associations: Shanghai AI Industry Association (SAIA), Shanghai AI Technology Association (SAITA), Shanghai AI Development Alliance (SAA), etc.

Conventions & Exhibitions: World AI Conference, Global Developer Conference (GDC), etc.

Industry Platforms: National and Local Co-Built Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Institute for Advanced Algorithms Research (Shanghai), Shanghai Academy of AI for Science, Amazon Web Services' first AI research institute in the Asia-Pacific region, etc.

Industry Policies

Measures of Shanghai to Further Expand the Application of Artificial Intelligence

Action Plan for High-quality Development of Shanghai's Smart Terminal Industry (2026-27)

Implementation Plan of Shanghai for Accelerating "AI + Manufacturing" Development

• Encouraging leading enterprises to pioneer new model applications and supporting small and medium-sized businesses in digital and intelligent transformation;
• Achieving breakthroughs in key technologies, such as high-end AI training chips and edge AI inference chips.

Exemplary Case

In 2025, the Shanghai-recommended "Tesla's xBOT Customer Service" and "Volvo AI Assistants" became the first AI products developed by foreign-invested enterprises to receive approval for launch in China. This marks a further opening-up in China's AI sector and signals the acceleration of intelligent transformation in the automotive industry.

Industry Map

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Shanghai will focus on AI development in core areas including Xuhui and Pudong, aiming to build a world-class AI industry cluster with global reach and influence.

​"4 + X": Spatial Layout of the AI Industry in Shanghai

"4" Core Clusters (Including Key Parks)

• Zhangjiang, Pudong: Integrating sci-tech innovation and the smart industry; Zhangjiang Alsland sets a benchmark for China's AI industry
• West Bund, Xuhui: AI Tower is in service; SMC provides five public service platforms and an innovation community with complete functions
• Maqiao, Minhang: Overall regional development is driven by the specialized leading industries in the Maqiao AI Innovation Experimental Zone to create a model for future smart cities featuring smart production, smart living, and smart ecology
• Lin-gang Special Area: Relying on the International Data Port to develop AI business related to the cross-border digital economy

"X" Specialized Parks

Shibei Hi-Tech Park, Changyang Campus, Hongqiao Smart Valley, Universal Software Park, Qingpu West Hongqiao Smart Valley, etc.

Source: 2026 Shanghai Foreign Investment Guide