Photonics industry in Shaanxi province: a beacon of ‘chain clustering’ effect

Shaanxi Province's implementation of the "Chasing Light Plan" at the close of 2021, followed by the launch of "Leap Action" last year, has propelled the photonics industry into a phase of rapid development, fostering an ecosystem marked by the synergistic effect of "gathering chains and groups".

The cumulative output value of the photonics industry has surged by over 50% annually in the last two years, surpassing the 30 billion yuan ($4.22 billion) mark.

The data was picked up by China Daily at the 2024 Hard Technology Innovation Conference Photon Industry Summit, which took place in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, situated in Northwest China on Sunday. The conference had the theme of "chasing light and revitalizing, gathering chains and groups".

The construction of the "Advanced Attosecond Laser Facility" (Xi'an section) is announced at the conference.

The "Advanced Attosecond Laser Facility" (Xi'an section), spearheaded by the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Machinery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, is expected to be constructed within 5 years.

At the forefront of scientific achievement, the attosecond represents the shortest timescale ever harnessed by scientists – one quintillionth of a second. The attosecond lasers enables the observation of intricate internal electron dynamics within molecules, a feat unattainable with femtosecond (one quadrillionth of a second) lasers.

The establishment of the cutting-edge facility in Xi'an has garnered backing from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and government. It has also been earmarked as a core component of the Xi'an Regional Science and Technology Innovation Center.

The summit also witnessed signing ceremonies that facilitate the entry of photonics enterprises from beyond Shaanxi province, fostering the integrated development of the photonics industry chain, and outlining the technology and finance strategy for the sector.

The release of the Blue Book on the Frontiers of Photonics Technology and the Hard Technology ESK Value Investment Responsibility Report (2024) produced debate at the summit.

Mi Lei, the founding partner of Zhongke Chuangxing and a key proponent of the hard technology paradigm, highlighted the burgeoning photonics landscape in Shaanxi province. Over the past two years, the number of photonics enterprises has surged from 150 to more than 300, laying the foundation for a robust photonics industry ecosystem.

Responding to the imperative of fortifying the photonics industry chain, Shaanxi has attracted more than 30 pivotal photonics industry players from outside the province.

Also at the conference, six companies from outside of Shaanxi signed agreements with the Xi'an High-tech Zone Management Committee to establish a presence in Xi'an through investments in production line construction, branch establishment or research and development centers.

The signing ceremony for the opening of photon enterprises in Shaanxi

The signing ceremony for the technology and finance strategy of the photonics industry

The signing ceremony for the integrated development of the photon industry chain

The Blue Book on the Frontiers of Photon Technology is released at the summit

The summit, hosted by the Management Committee of Xi'an High-tech Zone and the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and supported by Western Science Holdings, China Science and Technology Innovation Star, Shaanxi Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute, and Shaanxi Photonics Innovation Center, marked a significant milestone in the evolution of Shaanxi's photonics industry.