The design sketch of the Zhangjiang science assembly hall [Photo/eastday.com]

A number of projects were launched at the central area of Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone recently.

At the Zhangjiang 2019 Future Industries Forum, which was held at Pudong New Area, Shanghai on Jan 7, the Zhangjiang Group unveiled its plan to build an artificial intelligence (AI) island in the Zhangjiang central area, based on Zhangjiang’s solid industrial foundations of digital information and life sciences.

According to the plan, the island will cover 100,000 square meters and will focus on AI, big data, cloud computing, block chains, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality industries.

Bao Chunqian, vice general manager of Zhangjiang Group, revealed that the core technologies and products of the most representative AI enterprises in the Zhangjiang science city will be first applied on the AI island.

“We will build incubators and set up investment funds on the island with Zhangjiang’s leading enterprises,” said Bao.

To date, Zhangjiang has made significant progress in the field of AI, and has been conducting practical applications in information processing, intelligent monitoring, biometric recognition, industrial robots and unmanned vehicles.

Currently there are more than 70 AI companies in Zhangjiang, almost covering the entire AI industry chain.

Another project being undertaken in the Zhangjiang central area is the construction of the science assembly hall.

After completion, the assembly hall will host various events, including international conferences, technological forums and exhibitions, and act as an interaction and scientific education platform.

In the future, it is expected that the Zhangjiang central area, while focusing on the science and innovation and public services, will become a bustling sub-center of Shanghai, with a wide array of supporting facilities, convenient transportation and a pleasant, livable environment.