China Recognizes 400 AI Firms as National "Little Giants"

Over 400 enterprises in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector have been recognized as national-level "Specialized, Fined, Peculiar and New" (SFPN) "Little Giants" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. These enterprises are distinguished by their innovative capabilities and significant contributions to the AI industry. The ministry has outlined plans to further enhance support in areas such as supply, application, and ecosystem to foster the growth of these enterprises.

The ministry aims to strengthen the development of general and industry-specific large models, accelerate the industrialization and commercialization of next-generation super-terminals, and guide patient capital to increase support. This initiative is expected to cultivate a batch of leading enterprises and specialized, fine, peculiar, and new small and medium-sized enterprises in the industry. The goal is to drive advancements in AI technology, enhance the competitiveness of domestic enterprises, and contribute to the overall development of the AI industry in the country.

Currently, the country has established a comprehensive AI industry system covering the basic layer, framework layer, model layer, and application layer. The ministry has organized efforts to develop AI chips, algorithm frameworks, and large models, resulting in a batch of competitive general and industry-specific large models. The support for creating national manufacturing innovation centers for embodied intelligence, humanoid robots, and intelligent voice technologies is also part of the initiative to accelerate breakthroughs in cutting-edge and key common technologies.

The application of AI is being actively promoted across various industries, including electronics, raw materials, and consumer goods. Large models are being rapidly deployed in research and development, design, trial production, manufacturing, and operational management. New models and business formats, such as smart factories and smart workshops, are continuously emerging. The ministry plans to fully promote AI-driven new industrialization by focusing on both supply and application. On the supply side, efforts will be made to strengthen the development of general and industry-specific large models, build high-quality data sets in the industrial sector, and lay a solid foundation for "intelligent industrialization." On the application side, the focus will be on driving the intelligent upgrading of the manufacturing industry across the entire process, key industries, and key products, and accelerating the industrialization and commercialization of next-generation super-terminals to promote "industrial intelligence."

Additionally, the ministry will work to continuously strengthen the overall ecosystem by guiding patient capital to increase support, cultivating leading enterprises and specialized, fine, peculiar, and new small and medium-sized enterprises, and accelerating the development of key and urgent standards. Efforts will also be made to strengthen talent cultivation, ethical governance, and international cooperation to create a favorable industry ecosystem.