The fifth plenary session of the Sixth CPC Taizhou Municipal Committee concluded on Jan 6, setting directions for the city's development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30).

Taizhou is leveraging AI, a core driver of industrial transformation, to develop its maritime economy. The city has launched AI applications such as intelligent fatigue monitoring for seafarers, identification of unregistered vessels, and marine-based drug discovery. It has also established the nation's first provincial-level marine satellite innovation alliance.

Taizhou plans to deepen AI integration with the entire marine industry chain. One of the primary objectives is advancing technologies in marine satellite connectivity, collaborative communication between satellites and Earth, and big data analytics to enhance the marine spatial computing hub, which will connect high-quality data and remote sensing capabilities to generate valuable predictive models for marine environments.

Du Niansheng, director of the Taizhou municipal bureau of marine economy development, said that through the marine satellite alliance, the city would focus on solving key challenges, including enhancing communication systems and utilizing big data for better marine management and security. This includes creating customized forecasting models for weather events such as typhoons and offering navigation route plans for vessels in distress.

Du also emphasized the importance of AI in advancing research on marine-derived pharmaceuticals to treat major diseases such as cancer and drug-resistant infections, while ensuring the safety and sustainability of the fisheries industry.