Core Points - The 2025 China Internet Civilization Conference opened in Hefei, marking the first time this national event is held in the Yangtze River Delta and central regions [2][3] - Hefei is recognized as a city driven by technology and innovation, with terms like "investment city" and "smart city" frequently associated with it [5] - Hefei has been awarded the title of "National Civilized City" for four consecutive terms, emphasizing its commitment to a benevolent mainstream value system [7] Group 1: Internet Civilization and Social Development - Hefei promotes online and offline initiatives to foster a culture of kindness, including a media evaluation column with over 2 billion reads and various volunteer activities [8][11] - The city has implemented a project called "AI Dreaming Basic Education," which has provided over 3.2 million yuan worth of smart devices to 833 schools across 12 provinces [11][12] - Hefei has taken significant steps to ensure a clean online environment, clearing over 70,000 harmful pieces of information in 2024 alone [11] Group 2: Smart City Development - Hefei has developed a "city brain" that utilizes vast data and intelligent algorithms to enhance urban governance and improve public services [15][18] - The city has implemented smart traffic management systems, achieving a green wave coverage of 27.56% across 862 intersections, resulting in a 34.5% increase in average driving speed [17] - Hefei has established 44 smart elderly care service centers, providing comprehensive services to the elderly population [20] Group 3: Economic Growth and Innovation - Hefei has positioned itself as a leader in artificial intelligence, with 813 AI-related enterprises and significant advancements in the electric vehicle sector, achieving a production volume of 1.376 million units in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 84.5% [25][29] - The city aims to develop its cultural and creative industries, with plans for the Purple Cloud Mountain Cultural and Creative Industry Park to reach a scale of over 100 billion yuan by 2027 [26][28] - Hefei's GDP reached 1.35077 trillion yuan in 2024, ranking it among the top 20 cities in China, with a growth rate of 6.6% in the first quarter of this year [29][30]

Development Centre Studies Development Centre Studies Development Centre Studies Start‑up Asia Chasing the Innovation Frontier Start‑up Asia Chasing the Innovation Frontier Start‑up Asia CHASING THE INNOVATION FRONTIER This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD or its Development Centre. Note by all the European Union Member States ...