The 2025 World Smart Industry Expo commenced on September 5 in Chongqing, China, showcasing over 550 companies and more than 3,000 innovations centered around autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI), and new energy vehicles (NEVs). This year’s event emphasizes the theme of “AI+” and highlights the transformative potential of technology across various sectors, including digital governance, robotics, and smart living.
This expo features Singapore as the Guest Country of Honor and Sichuan Province as the Guest Province of Honor. During the opening ceremony, nine keynote speakers discussed the pivotal role of AI in driving social change. Harry Shum Heung-Yeung, Chairman of the Council at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, emphasized the emergence of embodied intelligence. He predicts advancements in robotics that will enable machines to learn and adapt in real-world scenarios.
The event also includes insights from Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board and CEO of Digital Industries at Siemens AG. He pointed out that AI is hastening the transition to software-defined automation, which enhances industry flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability.
Investment and Collaboration Opportunities
The expo serves as a hub for collaboration, featuring 11 matchmaking events focused on AI, digital transformation, and equity financing. Notable companies such as Huawei and Baidu are participating alongside 40 investment institutions. Contracts signed during the event are projected to exceed 200 billion yuan (approximately $27.5 billion), with 120 billion yuan finalized on-site.
One of the landmark projects highlighted is Geely’s smart manufacturing initiative, which aims to bolster supply chains and enhance Chongqing’s “33618” advanced manufacturing cluster. This municipal strategy is designed to upgrade the industrial framework and establish Chongqing as a key center for advanced manufacturing, focusing on sectors like NEVs, electronics, materials, food processing, textiles, and biomedicine.
Showcasing New Technologies
The expo’s NEV pavilion features 20 global automakers, including Changan, Seres, and Tesla, supported by over 100 parts suppliers and ecosystem partners. The showcase emphasizes advancements in smart driving technologies, software-defined vehicles, and intelligent manufacturing processes.
Additionally, the event acts as a launch platform for several groundbreaking technologies, including Changan’s “SDA Intelligence” brand, the Chongqing Low-Altitude Smart Management Service Platform, AI Computing Open Architecture, Sugon’s AI Supercluster system, and the China NEV Challenge.
The World Smart Industry Expo, known previously as the Smart China Expo, has evolved since its inception in 2018 into a vital platform for digital innovation. It unites industry leaders, scholars, and policymakers to highlight breakthroughs in smart technology and foster international collaboration.
