China's MIIT: Focus on Next-Gen Smart Manufacturing, Boost Open-Source Foundation and Industry-Specific AI Models

The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention opened in China. Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xin Guobin said in his speech that the ministry will focus on next-generation smart manufacturing to boost the innovation, competitiveness, and overall strength of the manufacturing sector.

Xin outlined four priorities: improving the industrial innovation system, advancing core technology breakthroughs, upgrading advanced manufacturing and building world-class industrial clusters, strengthening smart manufacturing by pushing AI plus manufacturing, cultivating smart factories, and developing open-source foundation models and industry-specific models, and nurturing high-quality enterprises including specialized SMEs.

The push for open-source foundation models and vertical models is seen as a key step to strengthen the software and hardware base for smart manufacturing, as China accelerates the deep integration of AI and manufacturing.