Industry News | Shenzhen announces its establishment! Another trillion dollar economy is taking off!

On the afternoon of May 24th, the Shenzhen Low altitude Economy Expert Committee was officially established. It is reported that the expert committee is a strategic, global, professional, and authoritative decision-making and consulting platform for promoting the development of low altitude economy in Shenzhen.

On November 14, 2019, Thomas Frey, a globally renowned futurist and founder and executive director of the Da Vinci Institute, gave a speech titled "Hello 2029!" at the Shenzhen High Tech Fair, envisioning the technological world 10 years from now. He stated that by 2030, there will be 1 billion drones in use in cities, just like birds.

This prediction is gradually becoming a reality in Shenzhen!

Recently, "major events" in the low altitude field in Shenzhen have frequently appeared on the hot search list: "takeout from the sky" has become a reality. In February, Meituan City's low altitude logistics solution was approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China; The "flying" in the air has also arrived. In March, two fixed helicopter routes, "Yanzi Lake Convention and Exhibition Center Bao'an Helicopter Airport" and "Yanzi Lake Convention and Exhibition Center Futian Greater China", were officially opened... Shenzhen's exploration pace in the low altitude economy has further accelerated.

It is worth noting that the work points of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress for 2023 have recently been released. Among them, the formulation of the "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Low altitude Economic Industry Promotion Regulations" has been included as a key legislative project this year.

In 2023, the construction of a low altitude economic center was first included in the work report of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. After the takeoff of the low altitude economy, there is an urgent need to improve the level of industrial standardization and development. Through legislation, Shenzhen strives to solve the problems of "lack of legal basis" in the control of drone airspace use, insufficient utilization of low altitude airspace resources, and further optimization of low altitude operation and support services, in order to promote the "soaring" of Shenzhen's low altitude economic industry.

It is worth mentioning that on November 22, 2022, the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area Digital Economy Research Institute released the "Low altitude Economy White Paper - Shenzhen Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the "White Paper"). The white paper proposes the concept of transforming low altitude airspace from a "natural resource" to an "economic resource", and points out the transformation from an "accessible airspace" to a "computable airspace", thereby becoming a digital implementation path for "usable airspace".

The white paper points out that low altitude airspace is not only a physical space for carrying low altitude flights, but should also become a production factor for realizing new commercial and social values in the future. Driven by technological research and development, the improvement of industrial chain construction, and a series of government policies, the low altitude economy is expected to give rise to over a trillion level industrial clusters, including low altitude manufacturing, low altitude flight, low altitude support, and comprehensive services.

In 2022, Shenzhen issued the "Implementation Plan for Innovative Development of Low altitude Economy Industry in Shenzhen (2022-2025)", which clarified the overall requirements, key tasks, guarantee measures and other key contents, and pointed out the direction for the high-quality development of low altitude economy industry in various districts. Shenzhen focuses on the construction of low altitude intelligent fusion flight infrastructure, flight service guarantee, and sound regulatory mechanisms. Taking the approval of the Shenzhen Civil Unmanned Aerial Pilot Zone as an opportunity, it seizes the strategic opportunity of intensive innovation and high-speed growth in the low altitude economy industry to further promote the construction of low altitude related supporting infrastructure, accelerate the expansion of low altitude application scenarios, provide better and more convenient services, provide fertile ground for low altitude economy enterprises rooted and operating in Shenzhen, and accelerate the innovation and development of the city's low altitude economy industry.

Shenzhen establishes low altitude economy expert committee

On the afternoon of May 24th, the establishment ceremony of the Shenzhen Low altitude Economy Expert Committee (referred to as the "Expert Committee") and the first consultation and discussion meeting of the Expert Committee were held in the Shenzhen Hall of Wuzhou Hotel. It is understood that the expert committee is a strategic, global, professional, and authoritative decision-making and consulting platform for promoting the development of low altitude economy in Shenzhen.

The expert committee members stated that Shenzhen is the city with the greatest potential for low altitude economy in China and even globally. Low altitude economy is the engine driving the development of Shenzhen's new economy and an important growth point for China's economy in the future. It is expected to become a representative industry for China's high-quality development. The low altitude economy also urgently needs to develop effective technological means, build suitable infrastructure, accelerate the transformation of low altitude airspace from natural resources to economic resources, fully tap the value of low altitude airspace, create new paradigms for work and life, explore new spaces for economic development, and promote low altitude to become a new economic growth pole.

The expert committee members believe that Shenzhen's ability to accurately grasp the development situation of low altitude economy and utilize its own technological and industrial advantages to take the lead in carrying out low altitude flight practice has important demonstration significance. The expert committee will provide strategic advice in top-level design, policy and regulatory formulation, technical support in key technological breakthroughs and application demonstrations, and provide links for the deep integration of academia and industry.

The attending expert committee unanimously believes that the development of low altitude economy requires joint efforts from all sectors, and hopes to bravely explore this hot land of innovation and entrepreneurship in Shenzhen, pushing the development of low altitude economy to a new height.

Shenzhen pioneers the 'low altitude economy'

The key points for the work of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress in 2023 have recently been released. It is worth noting that this year the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress plans to review 34 regulations, and legislation to promote high-quality economic development is the top priority. Among them, the formulation of the "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Low altitude Economic Industry Promotion Regulations" has been included as a key legislative project this year.

Recently, "major events" in the low altitude field in Shenzhen have frequently appeared on the hot search list: "takeout from the sky" has become a reality. In February, Meituan City's low altitude logistics solution was approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China; The "flying" in the air has also arrived. In March, two fixed helicopter routes, "Yanzi Lake Convention and Exhibition Center Bao'an Helicopter Airport" and "Yanzi Lake Convention and Exhibition Center Futian Greater China", were officially opened... Shenzhen's exploration pace in the low altitude economy has further accelerated.

This year, the construction of a low altitude economic center was included for the first time in the work report of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. After the takeoff of the low altitude economy, there is an urgent need to improve the level of industrial standardization and development. Through legislation, Shenzhen strives to solve the problems of "lack of legal basis" in the control of drone airspace use, insufficient utilization of low altitude airspace resources, and further optimization of low altitude operation and support services, in order to promote the "soaring" of Shenzhen's low altitude economic industry.

What are the benefits and advantages of developing low altitude economy in Shenzhen?

Low altitude economy is a comprehensive economic form dominated by general aviation and based on various manned and unmanned low altitude flight activities. Its core areas include low altitude manufacturing, low altitude support, low altitude flight, and comprehensive services, with strong radiation and driving capabilities.

In recent years, the government has issued a series of policy measures to support the development of the low altitude economy industry, and Shenzhen's low altitude economy development has received many policy dividends.

In February 2021, the National Comprehensive Three dimensional Transportation Network Planning Outline first proposed the development of low altitude economy. In January 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce issued the "Opinions on Relaxing Special Measures for Market Access in Shenzhen's Construction of a Demonstration Zone for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics", proposing to relax access restrictions in the aviation industry. In August 2022, the Civil Aviation Administration of China approved the Shenzhen Civil Unmanned Aerial Pilot Zone, which aims to conduct experiments and explorations in urban scenarios and comprehensive application expansion. This is another national pilot zone title awarded to Shenzhen in the field of low altitude economy, following the National General Aviation Industry Comprehensive Demonstration Zone and the National General Aviation Classification Management Reform Pilot.

It can be seen that Shenzhen is undertaking multiple innovative pilot tasks for the national development of low altitude economy, which is of great significance for Shenzhen to seize the strategic opportunity of high-speed development of low altitude economy industry and promote innovative development of low altitude economy industry.

On the other hand, Shenzhen has an industrial foundation for developing a low altitude economy.

After more than 20 years of development, the drone industry in Shenzhen has formed a complete industrial chain integrating mold manufacturing, electronic component production, software platform development, and product manufacturing; The number of intellectual property rights of drone companies in Shenzhen ranks among the top, such as DJI Innovation, Daotong Intelligence, Kewaitai, etc. DJI Innovation alone has more than 1000 drone patents every year, and its strong independent innovation capability enables Shenzhen drones to maintain strong competitiveness in domestic and international markets; Shenzhen has a rich variety of drone application enterprises, covering multiple fields such as aerial photography, traffic patrol, exploration and mapping, plant protection, logistics and distribution, enriching the commercial operation exploration scenarios of drones. Shenzhen is known as the "capital of drones", with a drone industry output value of 75 billion yuan in 2022, accounting for about 70% of the country's total. In recent years, Shenzhen's drone exports overseas have accounted for 80% of the total drone exports in the country.

The innovative application of drones is continuously driving the development of low altitude economy. Nowadays, there are more than 1500 low altitude economic chain enterprises in Shenzhen, including DJI Innovation, SF Technology, Meituan, and Eastern Navigation, distributed in various links of drone research and development, production, sales, and operation, forming a relatively complete industrial ecosystem. DJI Innovation, headquartered in Shenzhen, is a global leader in the field of consumer grade drones, while SF Express, Meituan, and Eastern Airlines have explored logistics and distribution, urban air traffic, and other areas.

What explorations has Shenzhen made to develop towards the sky?

Shenzhen has great potential to develop towards the sky.

Thanks to its advantages in low altitude resources and strong innovation genes, Shenzhen has made many explorations in recent years. Low altitude flight formats and application scenarios such as cross-border helicopters, aerial rescue, and drone logistics continue to emerge, constantly opening up new tracks in the low altitude economy field.

In June 2019, Eastern Airlines obtained China's No. 001 cross-border flight permit, achieving the first cross-border flight of a Shenzhen Hong Kong helicopter; In November 2019, the first unmanned aerial vehicle testing base in South China and the fifth government led construction and operation in China, the Longgang District Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Testing Field in Shenzhen, was officially put into use; In December 2020, SF Express Technology was approved to pilot a low altitude unmanned aerial vehicle logistics and distribution system in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area

After the takeoff of Shenzhen's low altitude economy, the pace of exploration is gradually accelerating.

In February of this year, Meituan City's low altitude logistics solution was approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and obtained the "Approval Letter for Specific UAV Trial Operation" and "General Aviation Enterprise Operating License". Mao Yinian, Vice President and General Manager of the Drone Business Department of Meituan, stated that not only does Shenzhen have policy support, but it also has a complete industrial chain. "We will definitely deepen our cultivation in Shenzhen." We believe that in the future, Meituan will be committed to building a low altitude technology system for cities, and will continue to unlock more dimensions and time for cities, opening a new chapter in the low altitude logistics economy of cities.

On March 2nd, two fixed helicopter routes, "Yanzi Lake Convention and Exhibition Center Bao'an Helicopter Airport" and "Yanzi Lake Convention and Exhibition Center Futian Greater China", were officially opened. It only takes 20 minutes by helicopter from Pingshan Yanzi Lake Convention and Exhibition Center to Bao'an International Airport and 13 minutes to Futian Greater China. Pingshan District also revealed that it will take this maiden flight as an opportunity to strengthen the layout of the low altitude manufacturing industry chain, study and promote the construction of parking aprons in Pingshan District People's Hospital and other areas, build air medical rescue channels and air emergency rescue systems, and gradually build a comprehensive and multi field low altitude service circle.

The development of low altitude economy relies on the market as the foundation and policies as the guarantee.

Shenzhen continues to introduce relevant policies and plans to support the development of low altitude economy. In June 2022, the "20+8" industrial policy released by Shenzhen included the "intelligent robot industry cluster" including drones as one of the 20 strategic emerging industry clusters. The "Action Plan for Promoting the Construction of New Information Infrastructure in Shenzhen (2022-2025)" and the "14th Five Year Plan for Comprehensive Transportation in Shenzhen" propose the construction of a low altitude civilian drone networking system, the creation of a drone city low altitude logistics operation center and dispatch supervision platform, the construction of a city low altitude logistics network, and the promotion of innovative applications of drones in smart city logistics.

How can Shenzhen boldly explore the "low altitude zone" and cultivate new economic growth points?

This year's work report of the Shenzhen Municipal Government proposes to "build a low altitude economic center, create a comprehensive demonstration zone for the general aviation industry, a pilot zone for civil unmanned aerial vehicles, promote unmanned aerial vehicle end of pipe delivery services, and cultivate and develop new growth points such as low altitude manufacturing and low altitude flight.

At the Shenzhen High Quality Development Conference, the Shenzhen Transportation Bureau stated that it will accelerate the construction of a globally leading low altitude economic center, promote the construction of the country's first logistics drone manufacturing factory, and carry out over 500000 cargo drone flights.

The city's transportation work conference revealed that Shenzhen will increase its exploration pace in the field of low altitude economy this year: accelerate the construction of civil unmanned aerial vehicle test zones, strengthen the top-level design of low altitude economy; Building an intelligent integrated low altitude system and promoting the creation of five networks: low altitude "facility network", "air route network", "communication network", "meteorological network", and "service network"; Vigorously expanding low altitude application scenarios, supporting leading enterprises such as Meituan, SF Technology, and Eastern Airlines to carry out low altitude flight pilot tests, and promoting unmanned aerial vehicle end of pipe delivery services; Supporting leading enterprises to increase their investment in Shenzhen, we plan to add 6 provincial and municipal innovation platforms throughout the year, forming a good ecosystem for the coordinated development of 3 to 5 leading enterprises and a group of low altitude economic enterprises.

At this year's two sessions of the National People's Congress, Gao Wen, deputy to the National People's Congress, director of Pengcheng Laboratory and academician of the CAE Member, also paid close attention to the development of low altitude economy. Gao Wen suggested supporting Shenzhen's exploration of establishing a "low altitude economic demonstration zone" to explore a new path for promoting low altitude airspace reform nationwide, including: promoting coordination with Shenzhen to carry out pilot projects for integrated airspace management and accelerating legislative work to promote the development of low altitude economy; Build low altitude digital infrastructure, create low altitude operating systems, establish digital management and new service models, and serve various new needs for the development of low altitude economic industries; Experiment and explore new models and technologies, establish a system and system capability to achieve dynamic management of urban low altitude; Fully explore and tap into the low altitude airspace resources of Shenzhen city, and explore the integrated operation and management mechanism of low altitude airspace. He believes that this series of exploratory attempts is not only conducive to promoting the development of Shenzhen's low altitude economy, but also has important demonstration and significance for the development of domestic and international low altitude industries.

”Looking up at the sky, one can see more than just blue skies and white clouds. Helicopters and drones are becoming increasingly common, and low altitude economic applications will also become more diverse. The takeoff of the low altitude economy has filled us with imagination about the sky. Although there is still a long way to go, we believe that by embracing innovation, this miracle city can create infinite possibilities. We hope that Shenzhen can become the first "Sky City" to take off. (Comprehensive from Shenzhen Special Economic Zone News and Shenzhen IoT)

Low altitude economy: a new trillion yuan industry investment trend

On August 22, 2022, the Civil Aviation Administration of China announced the second batch of unmanned aerial vehicle test bases (test zones), and Shenzhen was approved as a civil unmanned aerial vehicle test zone, targeting urban scenarios and comprehensive application expansion. The announcement of this news has shown the sensitive investment industry a surge of new business opportunities. The reporter recently learned from the Municipal Transportation Bureau that the bureau will accelerate the research on low altitude economy and formulate a city wide low altitude economy development policy in accordance with the deployment of the Municipal Party Committee Plenary Session, together with relevant research institutions.

Logistics field becomes a pioneer in low altitude economy

Shenzhen's consumer grade unmanned aerial vehicle production and sales account for 70% of the world's total, with leading automation and intelligent systems in the country. Shenzhen has a good foundation for developing a low altitude economy, but the reporter learned that the low altitude economy in Shenzhen is still in its infancy and only has a certain scale of operation in the logistics field.

Shenzhen policy supports the development of low altitude economy and drone logistics

The development of low altitude economy relies on policy support and guidance. The relevant person in charge of the Municipal Transportation Bureau introduced that in February 2021, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the "National Comprehensive Three dimensional Transportation Network Planning Outline", proposing to "develop transportation platform economy, hub economy, channel economy, and low altitude economy", and for the first time incorporating the concept of "low altitude economy" into national planning. The introduction of national policies has provided a policy foundation for the rapid development of low altitude logistics in Shenzhen.

In June 2021, the Shenzhen Municipal Government released the 14th Five Year Plan, proposing to promote the development of general aviation such as the comprehensive use of drones and accelerate the construction of a comprehensive demonstration zone for the general aviation industry (Shenzhen 14th Five Year Plan Outline: Accelerating the Construction of a Comprehensive Demonstration Zone for the General Aviation Industry). In October 2021, the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Central South Region Administration promoted the approval of enterprise logistics distribution business licenses and the approval of specific types of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, simplified the UAV flight application process, and improved the efficiency of low altitude airspace utilization.

On August 22, 2022, the Civil Aviation Administration of China officially approved the Shenzhen Civil Unmanned Aerial Pilot Zone, which will play an important role in seizing the strategic opportunity of high-speed development of the low altitude economy industry in Shenzhen, promoting innovative development of low altitude economy industries such as drone logistics, and also pushing Shenzhen's drone industry towards a new stage of development.

Research institutions and enterprises are fully committed to promoting the research and application of low altitude economy

The market has demand, and the low altitude economy is forming a research and application heat, "the relevant person in charge of the Municipal Transportation Bureau told reporters. The reporter learned that on November 22, 2022, the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area Digital Economy Research Institute released the "White Paper on Low altitude Economy - Shenzhen Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the "White Paper"). The white paper proposes the concept of transforming low altitude airspace from a "natural resource" to an "economic resource", and points out the transformation from an "accessible airspace" to a "computable airspace", thereby becoming a digital implementation path for "usable airspace".

The white paper points out that low altitude airspace is not only a physical space for carrying low altitude flights, but should also become a production factor for realizing new commercial and social values in the future. Driven by technological research and development, the improvement of industrial chain construction, and a series of government policies, the low altitude economy is expected to give rise to over a trillion level industrial clusters, including low altitude manufacturing, low altitude flight, low altitude support, and comprehensive services.

The research institute stated that it will work with relevant government departments, as well as low altitude core operating enterprises such as Meituan, SF Express Fengyi Technology, and Eastern Airlines, to bravely explore the hot land of innovation and entrepreneurship in Shenzhen. It will connect and cooperate with people from all walks of life who are interested in developing the low altitude economy, and together push the development of the low altitude economy to a new height and paradigm.

SF Express and Meituan stated that Shenzhen has unique policies and industrial chain advantages, many forward-looking partners, and strong market demand. Shenzhen is expected to become the world's first city for urban low altitude logistics. (Reporter Yi Dong from Shenzhen Special Zone Daily)

(Source: Comprehensive from Shenzhen Special Zone Press Group and Shenzhen IoT)