Visitors examine an eVTOL aircraft on display during a low-altitude industry event in Longhua in February 2025. Photos by Chen Jianhua  

Longhua District has launched investment funds totaling over 1.3 billion yuan (US$180 million) and unveiled a new industry incubator, marking a fresh push to scale up its low-altitude economy.

The initiative, announced at a district signing conference on March 24, brings together government-backed capital, investors and industry players as Longhua positions itself as a key hub in one of Shenzhen’s fastest-growing emerging sectors.

At the center of the push is the Shenzhen Ehang Dongfang Low-Altitude Economy Industry Fund, a 1-billion-yuan vehicle backed by municipal and district guidance funds alongside private investors. The fund will support a pipeline of drone and aviation projects, several of which were signed at the event.

A second-phase Shenzhen New Momentum Angel Fund, totaling 315 million yuan, will focus on early-stage innovation, targeting startups in areas such as aerospace technology and intelligent flight control.

Several companies have already been lined up for investment and cooperation, underscoring growing industry interest in the district.

Also launched was the Longhua Low-Altitude Economy Industry Incubator, designed to integrate resources from investors, research institutes and leading enterprises to support startups and accelerate commercialization.

Representatives sign investment agreements for projects under the Shenzhen Ehang Dongfang Low-Altitude Economy Industry Fund at a conference in Longhua District on March 24.

Longhua has already built one of Shenzhen’s most active low-altitude economy clusters, with 448 related enterprises and a full industrial chain spanning manufacturing, operations, infrastructure and services. Major players across logistics, drone technology and aerial applications are operating in the district.

The district has also moved quickly on infrastructure, building 205 takeoff and landing facilities — the largest number in Shenzhen — alongside 1,226 5G-A base stations and 88 weather stations. Key projects such as Zhangkengjing Heliport and a low-altitude integrated takeoff-and-landing hub in Dalang are progressing.

On the innovation front, Longhua hosts 23 related platforms at national, provincial and municipal levels, providing technical support for areas ranging from drone performance systems to equipment testing and intelligent connectivity.

Commercial applications are expanding rapidly. The district has recorded more than 277,000 logistics drone flights and is piloting a distributed low-altitude delivery network. Drones are also being deployed in emergency response, medical transport and cultural tourism.

Officials said the new funds and incubator will help accelerate project rollout, strengthen industry-capital alignment, and attract more high-growth aviation and drone startups to Longhua.