An aerial view of Longhua. File photo

Longhua District has launched a new digital technology platform aimed at accelerating the use of artificial intelligence in manufacturing, healthcare, education and other real-world industries, as Shenzhen steps up efforts to expand industrial AI applications.

The Longhua High-Tech Park Digital Intelligence Empowerment Center, recently unveiled in the district, focuses on integrating AI with HarmonyOS, Huawei’s open-source operating system ecosystem.

The center plans to provide services including industry-specific AI model optimization, intelligent agent development and coordinated software-hardware solutions for both AI-native companies and traditional industries undergoing digital transformation.

The initiative reflects a broader shift in China’s AI sector from large-scale model development toward practical industrial deployment, particularly in intelligent manufacturing and connected-device ecosystems.

Beyond technology development, the center is also positioning itself as a platform for connecting industry associations, leading companies and developers to help accelerate AI adoption and shape emerging industrial ecosystems and technical standards.

Healthcare has become one of its early focus areas. During recent exchanges hosted by the center, representatives from the Shenzhen Medical Devices Industry Association and companies including Mindray explored applications ranging from hospital digitalization to medical data management and HarmonyOS-enabled medical device connectivity.

The center has also begun rolling out public-service applications. One early project, developed with technology partner Changxing Technology, has been introduced at Longsheng Experimental School in Longhua.

The smart food safety system uses AI visual recognition and IoT technologies to monitor kitchen operations in real time. According to the center, the system can detect irregular behavior, monitor ingredient storage conditions and automatically generate management records, reducing manual reporting workloads by more than 80%.

The project has drawn interest from education authorities outside Shenzhen, including a visiting delegation from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.

The center is also expanding cooperation with universities and regional partners. During exchanges with the College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering at Shenzhen University, researchers discussed collaboration in areas including industrial vision algorithms, robotic 3D imaging and AI-assisted medical imaging.

Longhua officials said the district plans to use the platform to further connect government, industry, universities and research institutions, with the goal of accelerating the integration of digital technologies into the real economy.