Seven Chinese departments issued documents to promote equipment updates in the industrial field

It was learned from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that seven departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for Promoting Equipment Updating in the Industrial Sector", which proposes that by 2027, the scale of equipment investment in the industrial field will increase by more than 25% compared with 2023, and the scale of industrial equipment investment above designated size will be increased by more than 25% compared with 2023. The penetration rate of enterprise digital R&D and design tools and the numerical control rate of key processes exceed 90% and 75% respectively.

According to the relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, promoting large-scale equipment updates in the industrial field will help expand effective investment and promote the continuous increase in the proportion of advanced production capacity. The plan is clear, focusing on promoting new industrialization, using large-scale equipment updates as the starting point, implementing manufacturing technology transformation and upgrading projects, focusing on digital transformation and green upgrading, and promoting high-end, intelligent, and green development of the manufacturing industry.

The plan proposes to combine the differentiated needs for updating various types of equipment in the industrial field and rely on the market to provide diversified supplies and services. We will take overall consideration of industry development and market realities and proceed step by step and in an orderly manner. Actively promote the new generation of information technology to empower new industrialization, and while promoting the update of hardware equipment, focus on iterative upgrades and innovative applications of software systems.

It is understood that the plan proposes four key tasks: the implementation of advanced equipment update actions, digital transformation actions, green equipment promotion actions, and intrinsic safety level improvement actions. It is clearly stated that for industries whose overall production equipment is at a medium or low level, the elimination of backward and inefficient equipment and old equipment that has expired has been accelerated. For industries such as aviation, photovoltaics, power batteries, and biological fermentation where the overall production equipment is at a medium to high level, enterprises are encouraged to update a batch of advanced equipment with high technology, high efficiency, and high reliability.

In terms of safeguard measures, the plan points out that financial support for equipment renewal and technological transformation in the industrial field will be increased, and qualified key projects will be included in the scope of financial support such as investment within the central budget. In addition, special re-loans for technological innovation and technological transformation have been established to guide financial institutions to strengthen support for equipment updates and technological transformation.