A female humanoid robot dressed in red and gold armor draws the attention of many visitors at the 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair on May 22, 2025, in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province. (Photo: CFP)

Guangdong, China's largest provincial economy, has launched a 10 billion yuan intelligent industry fund in its capital city, Guangzhou, aimed at accelerating the development of AI, robotics, and semiconductor technologies.

The initiative marks a strategic move by the province to integrate industrial investment with emerging technologies and enhance its capabilities in next-generation manufacturing.

The fund's initial phase will raise two billion yuan. It is backed by a consortium of state-guided and private investors, including Gortune Investment, CAS Capital, SenseTime, PCITECH, and several firms based in Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

It is closely linked to the Guangdong Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Industry Alliance, which was formed to consolidate industrial resources and identify investment opportunities across sectors. Since its establishment, the alliance has outlined over 150 potential projects, spanning AI algorithms, robotics components, and intelligent system integration.

The fund's investment strategy is anchored in two core objectives: advancing fundamental research and accelerating real-world deployment. It targets key areas such as AI large models, intelligent robotics, and semiconductors, while also supporting practical applications in smart manufacturing and urban systems.

Rather than focusing on short-term financial returns, the fund emphasizes long-term impact, aiming to bridge gaps between research institutions, startups, and established companies. It intends to create a closed-loop pipeline from R&D to commercialization, facilitating a smoother path for lab-based innovations to reach industrial-scale production.

Officials describe the fund as part of a broader effort to address persistent bottlenecks in critical technologies and to strengthen local supply chains. By backing high-potential ventures and coordinating investment across industries, Guangdong hopes to foster more self-sustaining innovation clusters with international competitiveness.

Reporter | Liu Xiaodi, Ouyang Zixuan (intern)

Editor | Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He