Recently, the List of the National Pilot Program for Digital Transformation of SMEs (Fourth Batch) 2025 was announced, with 16 more enterprises from Cixi making the cut, out of which 6 are specialized in auto parts and 10 in home appliances, ranking among the top in Ningbo.
Seizing the opportunity of Ningbo’s national pilot program for SME digital transformation, our city has accelerated the digital overhaul of SMEs in sectors like home appliances and auto parts, gradually establishing a tiered transformation model characterized by "demonstration at key points, industry-wide driving along supply chains, and comprehensive coverage". To date, 94 projects have been included in the national SME digital transformation pilot program, with 49 successfully having been completed. Both figures take the lead in Ningbo.
Government, schools, and enterprises collaborate to innovate, focusing on the digital transformation needs of key industries. Sector-specific transformation scenario lists have been compiled, combining "N" common demands and "X" customized needs. for instance, a "9+13" module for auto parts and a "6+5" module for home appliances, providing a "menu-style" digital transformation approach to guide targeted upgrades.
Local colleges and universities, research institutes, and digital service providers are encouraged to collaborate in developing agile, lightweight, and precise solutions, fostering peer emulation, upstream-downstream synergy, and collective transformation. 8 general contractors for auto parts and home appliances were selected, leading to locally developed lightweight mini-MES solutions for these sectors. Notably, a trusted digital transformation product for home appliances, developed by the College and Science & Technology, Ningbo University, debuted on June 7, with its free basic version promoted among SMEs.
Benchmark projects drive intelligent transformation, guiding traditional enterprises to build cloud-based supply chains and collaborative production networks. Anchored by the development of future factories, smart factories, and digital workshops, resource allocation and production coordination efficiency are enhanced, propelling digital transformation from "individual innovation" to "ecosystem reinvention" through demonstration effects.
Since this year, Cixi has added 6 provincial-level digital workshops and 13 Ningbo-level digital workshops/smart factories, ranking the 1st and the 2nd in Ningbo, respectively. Cumulatively, 26 and 75 enterprises have been designated as provincial and municipal digital workshops/smart factories, with both figures topping Ningbo.
Strengthening smart ecosystem support, a digital transformation service system has taken shape. A 5G base station deployment plan was drafted, and a campaign to bolster new infrastructure was launched, resulting in over 4,000 5G base stations and 100% urban-rural gigabit fiber coverage. A Chief Data Officer (CDO) system was introduced, creating a "CDO + data specialists + business units" collaboration framework to nurture interdisciplinary data talents. A digital specialist training program, leveraging resources from local institutions like the College of Science & Technology, Ningbo University, the Cixi Digital Economy Association, service providers, and model enterprises, has trained over 130 specialists. Systematic service provider cultivation has led to 25 being listed in the provincial digital service provider directory.
