The Shandong Technology-led High-quality Development of Port and Shipping Conference and SPG Conference on Technology Innovation 2024 kicked off in Qingdao on Jan 16.

The event was aimed at leveraging the role of ports as inclusive platforms and the supportive role of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in technology innovation to deepen science and technology cooperation between relevant parties and drive the high-quality development of smart port and shipping.

Shandong Port Group (SPG) has since its establishment on Aug 6, 2019 has been committed to implementing an innovation-driven strategy and building a world-leading smart and green port. SPG's technology input has increased by nearly eight times compared with four years ago and its growth volume is the highest among Shandong provincial SOEs.

SPG has been selected as China's first pilot unit for building a country with great transport strength. It passed acceptance with a record 98.42 points.

In light of new global scientific trends, SPG has constructed China's first domestically developed automated container terminal, which is now in operation. It has also independently developed the container intelligent control system A-TOS.

SPG's automated container terminal has broken the world record for handling efficiency 10 times. Additionally, it is China's first port to receive five-star "Smart Port" and "Green Port" ratings.

It has also participated in the drafting and revision of 48 national, industry and group standards, and provided standards for smart port construction.

The group has won 143 scientific awards to date.

The event witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between SPG and Laoshan Laboratory that will see both sides work together to establish a smart and green port industrial and technological innovation center.

Furthermore, SPG has set up a big data center as part of efforts to make use of data resources to unleash data value and accelerate digital transformation. It has also worked together with Baidu to launch large-scale port model research to explore the deep integration of artificial intelligence and port business.

The Shandong Technology-led High-quality Development of Port and Shipping Conference and SPG Conference on Technology Innovation 2024 kicks off in Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]