The National Data Administration has recently approved the construction of National Pilot Zones for Digital Economy Innovation and Development in seven provinces and cities, including Jiangsu.

These pilot zones will focus on key bottlenecks and major challenges hindering the high-quality development of digital economy by undertaking five major tasks: advancing market-based allocation of data factors, improving the layout of digital infrastructure, achieving breakthroughs in core digital technologies, deepening digital transformation, and promoting reforms to align with the digital economy. Each zone, after identifying major policies and reform measures, items under comprehensive authorized reform, expected outcomes, and flagship projects, shall develop detailed implementation plans to be submitted for approval. Targeted pilot programs will then be launched to explore feasible pathways for leveraging data factors to empower the real economy, fostering digital industrial clusters with global competitiveness, and establishing institutional frameworks to drive digital economy development. These efforts will position Jiangsu and other pilot zones as trailblazers in digital economy reform and pioneers of innovation.

The National Data Administration, in collaboration with relevant authorities, will coordinate and guide reform efforts, enhance policy support for the pilot zones, and summarize and promote best practices. Successful models feasible for nationwide adoption shall be translated into formal policies and regulatory frameworks.