As a new economic format, digital economy has been widely recognized and has appeared in the national top-level strategy design of many countries. From 5G, artificial intelligence to industrial software, intelligent manufacturing, from digital factories, black light factories to future factories, smart factories, countries have carried out top-level design and strategic layout of manufacturing digitalization, seeking to occupy the commanding heights in the new pattern of the world economy.

1394-AM04 China’s economy has shifted from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development, and the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry is of great significance. What are the differences and similarities between the digital transformation of manufacturing industries in China and abroad, and what are their respective advantages? China News Agency “East and West Ask” recently interviewed Liu Junmei, deputy dean of the School of Economics of Fudan University.

The interview transcript is summarized as follows:

China News Service reporter: In the era of Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing, how is China’s “long board” and “short board” compared with the traditional industrial power?

1394-AM04 Liu Junmei: In the past 30 years of development, China has rapidly narrowed the gap with traditional industrial powers, and the manufacturing industry and its digital transformation have formed unique characteristics and advantages, with a number of “longboards”. China’s manufacturing industry is more dynamic because of its large scale and most complete system. China’s 5G technology is at the world’s leading level, the 5G base stations that have been built account for about 70% of the world’s 5G network has covered all parts of the country, and the rapidly declining 5G module price will boost the promotion and application of 5G technology in the manufacturing industry. The pioneering application of new technologies, new business forms and new models is leading, and China has invested more in this area than other countries, which has generated a great impetus for the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. In addition, the potential market for manufacturing digital transformation is large: at present, the proportion of digital investment of enterprises above the scale of China is 0.5%-1%, while the proportion of European and American enterprises is 3%-5%. If the digital investment of Chinese enterprises continues to increase to the level of European and American enterprises, combined with the output value of manufacturing industry, China’s potential market will be very huge.

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Of course, there are still many “short boards” in the digital transformation of China’s manufacturing industry, including: the overall technical level of the industry is relatively backward, and the external dependence of core basic components, key basic materials and basic technology industries still needs to be reduced; Although China’s Internet penetration rate has reached 76.4 percent, the Internet penetration rate of the United States, Germany and Japan is around 90 percent. In terms of new digital infrastructure, in addition to 5G related technologies, China’s technological level in many other fields needs to be improved; At present, most of the world’s hyperscale data centers are located in the United States, and domestic software is not competitive. The penetration rate of industrial digitization is not high; In terms of supporting services for digital transformation, China needs a variety of digital solution providers to 1394-AM04 provide corresponding services.

China News Service: In the face of the fourth industrial Revolution, what is the overall trend of the traditional industrial powers in terms of the digital transformation strategy of the manufacturing industry? What are the characteristics of each?

Liu Junmei: In the face of the fourth industrial Revolution, traditional industrial powers have put forward different ideas and plans for the digitalization of manufacturing based on their own development advantages.

The main task of the U.S. strategy is to revitalize the manufacturing industry, attract the manufacturing industry to return to the United States, and increase its share of advanced manufacturing products in the world. Its “re-industrialization” uses digital technology and information technology to develop advanced manufacturing, focusing on advanced manufacturing fields such as robotics and biotechnology, and focusing on improving technological innovation capabilities and achievement transformation capabilities. The German strategy aims to strengthen the leading position of “Made in Germany”, hoping to compete in the development of new standards and promote “German standards”; Japan’s strategy is to build a new 1394-AM04 digital society, focusing on the development of new technologies such as robots, to achieve “industrial interconnection” and “connected manufacturing”, and to promote technological innovation in the intelligent manufacturing industry. Singapore has increased investment in new industries and technologies of “artificial intelligence” and built a world research center. South Korea is focusing on building “smart factories.”

The differences between China and developed countries in the digital transformation of manufacturing industry are reflected in different development paths, different priorities and different attention to small and medium-sized enterprises. China’s development path is digitization before automation; The focus is on the development of emerging industries at the same time, with the integration of the two as the main line, to promote the traditional industry in the automation, information “make up”.