A new comprehensive roadmap for China's machinery industry emphasizes upgrading production capabilities as well as the integration of digital technologies into the entire industrial chain, setting clear objectives and phased timelines till 2030.

Released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and several other departments, the plan is a decisive step in advancing industrial modernization.

Four major initiatives lie at its core: intelligent equipment innovation and development, intelligent manufacturing expansion and popularization, smart services expansion and enhancement, and foundation support strengthening.

These initiatives are backed by 12 tasks, including R&D of common technologies and key components, accelerating the digital transformation of enterprises, enhancing equipment service functions, and improving the digital transformation standard system.

By 2027, digital and intelligent technologies will be widely applied across various stages of product R&D and design, manufacturing, operations management, and maintenance services. Fifty percent of enterprises will have level two smart manufacturing capability or above and at least 200 outstanding smart factories will be established.

By 2030, most large-scale mechanical industry enterprises will have completed a round of digital transformation. Key enterprises will achieve data interconnectivity and collaborative sharing across their supply chains. Sixty percent of enterprises will have level two smart manufacturing capability or above and at least 500 outstanding smart factories will be established.

The plan's scope reflects the broader context of China's economic strategy. Digital transformation is not merely a technological upgrade but an essential pathway to industrial resilience, efficiency and sustainability. This aligns with the national goals to move up the global value chain and develop homegrown innovation ecosystems.

The inclusion of collaborative mechanisms — linking enterprises, research institutions, and technology providers — underscores the plans systemic approach. By building cross-sector partnerships and open innovation platforms, it aims to break down long-standing silos in the machinery industry, accelerating knowledge transfer and commercialization.

In international terms, the plan calls for further global cooperation. By strengthening exchanges with relevant countries, regions, and international organizations, the global presence of Chinese intelligent equipment, supporting services and related standards will increase.

In addition, the plan will support multinational corporations in building high-level smart factories, R&D centers and other facilities in China, to jointly build a resilient global production network.