Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (Beijing E-Town) has announced the signing of 22 key projects, alongside the launch and continuation of 10 flagship developments, marking a new phase in its strategy to align urban development with future-oriented industrial growth.

More than 80 percent of the newly signed industrial projects fall into what Chinese policymakers define as “future industries”, underscoring E-Town’s intention to move beyond scale-driven expansion toward higher-quality, technology-led growth. Local officials describe the coming five-year period as a critical window in which several emerging sectors could reach hundred-billion-yuan scale.

The newly signed projects reflect a clear emphasis on advanced technologies. Autonomous driving company Baihang Intelligent Automotive plans to establish a vehicle manufacturing entity in E-Town, focusing on mass-produced Level-4 autonomous vehicles designed specifically for large-scale Robotaxi operations. The company projects revenues in the billion-yuan range by 2030.

ZTE, meanwhile, is expanding its footprint in the zone around artificial intelligence and 6G communications. With core technologies, system-level solutions, and production lines already in place, the company has established six affiliated entities in E-Town, reinforcing the area’s role in next-generation communications infrastructure.

Looking ahead, E-Town has identified embodied intelligence, commercial space, 6G, quantum technologies, brain–computer interfaces, and synthetic biology as priority directions. The objective is to build a more resilient industrial base while accelerating the formation of what Chinese policymakers refer to as “new quality productive forces”.

Artificial intelligence plays a central role in this strategy. Over 30 percent of the signed projects involve AI-related applications, reflecting E-Town’s broader ambition to evolve into a city-scale AI-enabled innovation zone. ZTE Digital Nebula, for example, will establish a research laboratory and initial production line for 6G satellite payloads, targeting a monthly capacity of 30 units. Other projects focus on applied scenarios such as AI-enabled agriculture and intelligent communications.

At the same time, E-Town is pairing industrial investment with upgrades to urban infrastructure and public services. The 2026 flagship projects include a Sanofi biologics active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing base, which will create a fully localized insulin production chain—from API to finished formulation—for the first time in China. Healthcare expansion, ecological restoration projects, and new education facilities are also underway, reflecting a deliberate effort to improve livability alongside industrial density.

Beyond physical investment, E-Town has released a “Top Ten Business Environment Action Plan for 2026” and introduced a dedicated business environment brand. The initiatives focus on regulatory foundations, market vitality, and institutional innovation, aiming to create a governance framework better aligned with technology-intensive and innovation-driven enterprises.

Officials emphasize that talent remains the core asset. Policies are increasingly designed to integrate investment in infrastructure with investment in people—through housing support, entrepreneurship programs, and skills development—seeking to enhance long-term productivity rather than short-term expansion.

Over the next five years, Beijing E-Town aims to deepen reform, remove institutional constraints on innovation, and strengthen its role as a key engine of Beijing’s economic growth. For international businesses and investors, the message is clear: E-Town is repositioning itself not merely as an industrial park, but as a platform designed to accommodate the next wave of technological and industrial transformation.