During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Tai'an in Shandong province has focused on building a modern industrial system, with digital and intelligent transformation at its core. The city has promoted high-end, smart, and green development in manufacturing, strengthening its industrial foundation and boosting growth momentum.

The role of industry as an economic stabilizer became more prominent during the period. The number of industrial enterprises above a designated size reached 1,618, with 681 new companies emerging since 2020. Two local companies were listed among China's top 500 private enterprises.

The share of industrial and manufacturing value-added in GDP increased from 24.6 percent and 19.8 percent to 27.4 percent and 23 percent, respectively, laying a solid foundation for high-quality development.

The city has sped up the upgrading of traditional sectors, carrying out more than 1,700 technological transformation projects valued above 5 million yuan ($702,870) each.

In innovation, Tai'an has established a national advanced printing and dyeing technology center and 64 provincial-level R&D centers. Breakthroughs were achieved in high-end products like electronic-grade silane.

Digital transformation has progressed rapidly, with 95.1 percent of major industrial enterprises undergoing digital upgrades. For three years straight, Tai'an has secured a place among the top 100 digital economy cities in China and is a provincial leader in digital transformation.

Green manufacturing has also advanced, with 61 national and provincial green factories established. The city hosted the 2025 Shandong green microgrid innovation conference, promoting sustainable industrial practices.

Enterprise competitiveness continues to grow, with 20 national champion firms and 85 provincial ones. These efforts reinforce Tai'an's goal of becoming a leading high-tech manufacturing hub.