Hebei Launches AI and Manufacturing Plan to Upgrade Heavy Industries

Hebei provincial authorities have released a dedicated implementation plan to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across the province's manufacturing base. Jointly issued by eight departments including the provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the initiative establishes a framework linking computing power, algorithms, and industrial data. The policy focuses on deploying AI models in core sectors such as steelmaking, chemical safety, and pharmaceuticals, while building computing infrastructure around Beijing and lowering computing costs for small and medium-sized enterprises ahead of 2027 quantitative milestones.

As a traditional industrial and heavy-manufacturing powerhouse, Hebei's move reflects how local governments in China are translating broad national "AI+" strategies into granular sector-level operational playbooks.

Hebei provincial authorities have issued an implementation plan to integrate artificial intelligence into the province's manufacturing sector, according to a report by People's Daily. The initiative was jointly formulated by eight provincial agencies, including the Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Communications Administration, and the Development and Reform Commission. The policy lays out a coordinated development framework focused on integrating computing power, algorithms, and industrial data. This approach aims to advance industrial intelligentization, commercialize smart industrial products, and build a supporting digital ecosystem across Hebei's manufacturing base. To strengthen foundational digital capabilities, the plan calls for accelerating the construction of an intelligent computing power cluster in the areas surrounding Beijing. The provincial government plans to launch inclusive computing power initiatives, utilizing mechanisms such as "computing power banks" and "computing power supermarkets" to lower computing costs for small and medium-sized enterprises. Authorities also plan to drive a data-model integration program to create a continuous loop linking industrial data, AI models, and real-world industrial scenarios across key local sectors like steel, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. In terms of practical deployment, the plan outlines sector-specific AI integration priorities. For the steel industry, models will concentrate on green and low-carbon transformations, including intelligent smelting in blast furnaces and converters, as well as smart energy dispatching. In the chemical industry, AI deployment will prioritize safety supervision and production risk management. Across production lines, the plan encourages the use of intelligent design and simulation models during research and development to reduce early-stage design costs. To support execution, Hebei will cultivate digital transformation promotion centers, establish an expert database, and build public service platforms for industrial large models. The province also plans to develop digital industrial parks and host the 2026 China Computing Conference. According to the report, the plan establishes quantitative development targets for 2027 and includes supporting application guides to help enterprises implement top-level policy goals on the factory floor.