At the new starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the digital transformation of manufacturing is no longer an “optional choice” in corporate development strategies, but a “required course” critical to survival and core competitiveness. As “intelligent upgrade, digital transformation, and network connection” continues to be a high-frequency term in industrial policies, China’s manufacturing industry is entering a crucial stage of deep integration among intelligent upgrading, digital transformation, and network-based connectivity. This represents not merely the iterative application of individual technologies, but a fundamental reform that reshapes production models and reconstructs industrial forms.
Consolidate the “Network Connection” Foundation to Build a Digital Nervous System for Manufacturing
“Network connection” serves as the nerve center and circulatory system for intelligent upgrade and digital transformation. For the 15th Five-Year Plan period, it is necessary to systematically build new-type infrastructure featuring high-speed ubiquitous coverage and cloud-network integration, providing solid support for the interconnection of all factors and the entire industrial chain in manufacturing.
Key measures include:
Promote the intergenerational upgrading of network infrastructure, accelerate the large-scale deployment of industrial 5G independent private networks, and drive the evolution of the network system from gigabit popularization to the integration of 10G PON and 5G-Advanced (5G-A), realizing millisecond-level interconnection of production equipment and real-time accurate collection of industrial data.
Develop integrated computing and networking capabilities, push computing resources to edge nodes, and deploy intelligent computing centers in industrial parks in a tiered manner, forming a collaborative service capacity of “connection + computing power” to provide sufficient computing support for the deep integration of artificial intelligence into core manufacturing processes.
Deepen the application of the identification and resolution system, build industrial Internet identification and resolution secondary nodes on a large scale, promote cross-enterprise and cross-regional data interoperability, unblock the data channels of the industrial chain, and enable the smooth flow of data factors.
By consolidating the network connection foundation, we lay a solid material and technological foundation for the intelligent upgrading and digital transformation of manufacturing, and unlock the potential of data factors.
Focus on the Main Battlefield of “Smart Factories” and Establish a Tiered Cultivation System
Smart factories are the main battlefield for the effective implementation of intelligent upgrade, digital transformation, and network connection. For the 15th Five-Year Plan period, all regions have abandoned the “one-size-fits-all” model and shifted to establishing a tiered cultivation system from basic to leading levels, precisely guiding enterprises to improve their intelligent level in phases and hierarchies.
This system follows the objective laws of manufacturing digital transformation:
The basic level focuses on unit-level transformation of key links to realize automation and interconnection at the “point” level.
The advanced level promotes workshop-level system integration to achieve digital management and control of the entire production process.
The excellent level breaks enterprise-level data barriers and builds digital twin and intelligent decision-making capabilities.
The leading level bases itself on the industrial chain ecosystem to explore cross-factory collaboration and model innovation.
This tiered design helps enterprises with weak foundations consolidate their digital roots, while supporting industry leaders to catch up with world-class standards, forming a virtuous cycle of “diagnosis and evaluation – benchmarking improvement – model leadership”. The core of tiered cultivation lies in dynamic adaptation and continuous improvement, enabling enterprises at different development stages to find their positioning and clarify paths, ultimately lifting the intelligent level of the entire industry.
Unblock the “Platform + Identification” Channel to Empower Collaboration Across the Entire Industrial Chain
Industrial Internet platforms and identification resolution systems are critical supports for connecting upstream and downstream industrial chains and achieving data integration. Their deep integration forms a digital nervous system covering the entire industrial chain:
The industrial Internet platform acts as the “industrial brain”, closely linking design, production, supply, sales and other links in the industrial chain to realize coordinated operations. The identification resolution system functions as a unified “digital ID card” for each product, equipment and material, ensuring accurate identification, traceability and utilization of data throughout the life cycle.
The deep integration of the two supports new models such as supply chain collaborative optimization, full life cycle management, and service-oriented extension, truly achieving the leap of manufacturing digital transformation from single-point application breakthroughs to overall system optimization.
Local Practices: Pilot Exploration and Multi-point Breakthroughs
Provinces and cities have formed distinctive promotion paths in the implementation of intelligent upgrade, digital transformation, and network connection based on their own industrial foundations. Examples include Jiangsu Province, Lianyungang, Hangzhou and Wuxi.
Jiangsu Province has basically achieved full coverage of industrial enterprises above designated size. It is home to 2 national leading smart factories, 67 excellent smart factories, and 301 5G factories, ranking first nationwide in all categories. Its integration of industrialization and informatization has led the country for 11 consecutive years. In 2026, Jiangsu will further deepen “intelligent upgrade, digital transformation, network connection”, launch “AI + manufacturing” diagnosis campaigns, and continue the tiered development of smart factories.
Lianyungang has clearly proposed an “AI +” special campaign in its 2026 work plan to systematically advance intelligent upgrade, digital transformation and network connection. It will build a SaaS-based industrial software platform featuring “small, fast, light, accurate and flexible” for free use by enterprises, and provide customized and menu-based transformation solutions with professional institutions. It will also promote initial, standardized and integrated digital transformation in typical scenarios such as product design and production control.
Hangzhou continues to advance intelligent upgrade, digital transformation, network connection and “cloud adoption, data utilization and intelligence empowerment”, encouraging manufacturing enterprises to use AI for intelligent upgrading, realizing full-chain, full-domain and full-cycle intelligent empowerment. In February 2026, Hangzhou released the “8+4” economic policy package, planning to implement over 650 key technical transformation projects in manufacturing, add 2 provincial future factories and 10 smart factories (digital workshops), and reduce burdens by 70 billion yuan for business entities, injecting new momentum for enterprises to move up the value chain.
Wuxi issued the Three-Year Action Plan for Deepening “Intelligent Upgrade, Digital Transformation, Network Connection” in Manufacturing (2025–2027). By the end of 2027, all industrial enterprises above designated size will complete intelligent upgrading; 5,000 smart factories leading the “465” modern industrial cluster will be cultivated; and 300 typical “AI + advanced manufacturing” scenarios will be promoted. By systematically deploying AI-driven new industrialization, building a “1+10+100” digital service provider system, and strengthening computing infrastructure, Wuxi aims to build itself into a world-class strong smart manufacturing city.
Conclusion
From consolidating the network connection foundation, to focusing on the main battlefield of smart factories, and to unblocking data channels across the entire industrial chain, “intelligent upgrade, digital transformation, network connection” is moving from concept to in-depth practice and from pilots to wide application.Facing the 15th Five-Year Plan, China’s manufacturing digital transformation will enter a new stage of comprehensive integration and deep convergence.
