The digital economy is currently undergoing a critical transformation from informatization, digitization, and networking to intelligentization. After more than three decades of rapid development, the added value of core digital economy industries now accounts for over 10% of GDP. By the end of this year, the broad-caliber digital economy is projected to reach 49 trillion yuan, representing approximately 35% of GDP. This growth is driven by accelerated infrastructure development in digital networks and data, the sustained release of data element value, and the multiplier effect of integration between the digital and real economies.
To further enhance and strengthen the digital economy during the "15th Five-Year Plan" and beyond, it is essential to focus on two key trends: the traction of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the driving force of data elements. Leveraging the advantages of a well-established digital industrial system and the accelerating digital-intelligent transformation of the real economy, efforts should be made to fully unleash the potential of data elements, enhance the competitiveness and influence of digital industrial clusters, and accelerate the construction of a data-driven digital economy to support the in-depth development of Digital China.
**1. Advancing Digital-Industrialization and Industrial Digitalization** Promoting development through application and industrial growth through infrastructure, the competitive edge of next-generation information technology and other digital industries should be strengthened. Building core technological advantages in AI, encouraging enterprises to explore innovative business models, and expanding market opportunities are crucial. Accelerating the growth of the data industry and fostering regional collaborative digital-intelligent development will help scale up data and digital industrial clusters. New business models integrating data with low-altitude economy, bioeconomy, and platform economy should be cultivated. Deepening the intelligent and digital transformation of traditional industries—such as manufacturing, agriculture, finance, logistics, pharmaceuticals, R&D services, and hospitality—will drive comprehensive upgrades.
**2. Strengthening Data Infrastructure and Institutional Development** Innovative development of data circulation and trading institutions should be encouraged, with data exchanges taking on more responsibilities in local public data utilization. Data product and service enterprises, as well as platform companies, should refine and specialize their offerings within a standardized regulatory framework. Public data openness, sharing, and authorized operations should serve as breakthroughs to explore fair pricing mechanisms for data products and services. A system ensuring mutual recognition of standards, quality assurance, and security will safeguard the circulation, trading, and value realization of data products.
**3. Fostering a Thriving Digital Economy Ecosystem** The digital economy, characterized by high reliance on data resources, intensive knowledge and talent, strong integration capabilities, and broad industry coverage, requires a supportive environment for professionals, interdisciplinary experts, and skilled workers. Flexible academic programs in universities, vocational schools, and training institutions, along with innovative talent evaluation mechanisms, are essential. Ensuring that enterprises, especially small and medium-sized innovative firms, have access to affordable, reliable computing power and high-quality data resources will further drive the digital economy's prosperity.
