Guangming marks 7th anniversary as a rising hub of science and innovation

Seven years ago, Shenzhen planted a “seed of science” in Guangming, with a bold vision to build a world-class science city. On September 19, 2018, Guangming District was officially established, and since then the area has rapidly transformed into a vibrant hub where science and urban development thrive side by side.

From its early days as farmland to an industrial hub and now to the “science city era,” Guangming has steadily advanced its strategic positioning. The district shoulders the historic mission of building Guangming Science City, serving as the pilot zone of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Comprehensive National Science Center, and becoming a global center for industrial and technological innovation as well as a high-level talent hub.

Science City blossoms in seven years

In just seven years of accelerated development, Guangming Science City has deployed 23 major science and technology platforms, including Pengcheng Cloud Brain III and the second phase of the National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen, and has attracted 19 top research institutes.

The Guangming Life Science Park. File photo

The Guangming Life Science Park now hosts the world’s largest automated synthetic biology research facility, integrating 40 functional modules that have boosted research efficiency tenfold and served more than 50 institutions. Nearby, the Brain Analysis and Simulation Facility —the world’s first comprehensive brain science research platform — has already provided services to over 200 research teams.

A bird’s-eye view of Sun Yat-sen University’s Shenzhen campus. File photo

Major institutions such as Sun Yat-sen University’s Shenzhen Campus, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, and the Guangdong Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy have taken root here, bringing together world-class scientists, academicians, and research teams.

Guangming’s innovation “circle of friends” is expanding rapidly, with alliances formed with Dongguan’s Songshan Lake Science City, the establishment of the Hetao Innovation Center in Guangming, and the opening of a Hong Kong operations hub of Guangming Science City. Covering just 99 square kilometers, Guangming boasts one of the nation’s highest densities of scientific infrastructure, fueling an extraordinary concentration of innovation.

Innovation driving industry

Breakthroughs from Guangming have already begun to change lives and markets — ranging from new Alzheimer’s treatments and biotech leather that has entered global luxury supply chains, to bionic robotic hands rivaling the best in the world.

Global companies are also anchoring their most advanced projects here. Lenovo’s Southern Intelligent Manufacturing Base in Guangming, its most automated factory worldwide, produces over 10 million smart devices annually and has become the “mother factory” for new product designs, including Lenovo’s first AI desktop PCs launched in 2024. Startups like Daimon Robotics are also scaling up production of exoskeletons, dexterous robotic hands, and sensor systems thanks to Guangming’s innovation ecosystem.

Researchers work at a lab of TÜV Rheinland in Guangming District. Lin Jianping

TÜV Rheinland, a global leader in inspection, testing, and certification services, opened its new operations hub in Guangming District in December 2024. The project marks the company’s largest investment in South China over the past five years.

Dr. Michael Fübi, CEO of TÜV Rheinland Group, said he was impressed by the “Guangming speed.”

“From discussing the establishment of the new hub, to selecting the location, completing decoration and installation work, and finally opening here, everything went so smoothly thanks to the government’s support,” he noted.

A growing economy and industry clusters

Guangming has developed multiple industrial clusters from scratch in just seven years. Its synthetic biology industry now includes over 130 enterprises with a combined valuation exceeding 40 billion yuan. The smart sensor sector has grown from 15 firms in 2021 to over 160 in 2024, while its AI industry cluster surpassed 30 billion yuan in scale.

From 2018 to 2024, the district’s GDP nearly doubled from 92.1 billion yuan to 172.1 billion yuan. It now hosts 35 listed companies, and more than 1,900 large-scale enterprises, securing Guangming’s place on the list of China’s Top 100 Industrial Districts for four consecutive years.

A livable and attractive destination

Beyond science and industry, Guangming has also become a livable and attractive destination. With a forest coverage rate of 25.7% and 279 parks, the district offers abundant green spaces and over 380 kilometers of green trails. Upcoming metro expansions will soon put Guangming within 30 minutes of Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and the Shenzhen airport.

A greenway in Guangming. Liu Xudong

Cultural and tourism appeal is also on the rise. The Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum, which opened in Guangming in May, received over 1.6 million visitors in its first 100 days, cementing its status as a top GBA attraction.

Juan Guerra from Ecuador highlighted the museum's hands-on approach, telling Shenzhen Daily: “Here you can see how technology works.”

The Red Bridge at Hongqiao Park. Liu Xudong

This summer, Guangming welcomed 1.75 million visitors, generating 1.36 billion yuan in tourism revenue.

For many, Guangming is increasingly seen as both a hub of innovation and an ideal home. “This is a city of dreams for young people,” said Song Youyang, founder of Shenzhen Pufei Technology Co., who returned from Berlin, Germany, to start a business here.

A bright future ahead

As Guangming District celebrates its 7th birthday, it has already established itself as a key driver of science, technology, and industry in the GBA. With nearly 60 academicians, over 3,000 high-level talents, and thousands of innovative enterprises now calling Guangming home, the district is positioning itself as a place not only for cutting-edge research but also for building an ideal life.

“I feel like Guangming Science City has a big prospect for the future. I think after five years we’re going to see a different Guangming, with innovation, very big companies — maybe unicorns — and major technologies coming from here,” said Dr. Nihad Cheraga from Algeria, who moved to Guangming in 2023 to work as business strategy manager of Times High Tech Industrial Park.

“So I think if the government keeps up the work they are doing — the promotion, the subsidies, the support, financial support, emotional support — everything, we will see another level of Guangming, just like Silicon Valley in the USA. So I’m very, very optimistic about this,” she told Shenzhen Daily in an earlier interview.