Modern services at core of new strategy for high-tech hub

Companies from Zhongguancun, Beijing's high-tech district, wowed visitors with new devices during the five-day China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Service, which opened at the China National Convention Center on May 28.

At this year's CIFTIS, the Zhongguancun exhibition area showcased core technologies and new products in the modern service sector, including such fields as massive datasets, cloud computing, as well as digital audio and video.

The park set up different functional zones in its exhibiting area at CIFTIS - one for showcasing applications, another for interaction with visitors and a third for business negotiations. Main products on display covered such areas as intelligent transportation, e-commerce and digital content.

At one booth operated by the science and technology park, a big screen showed the documentary Ancient Chinese Architecture, an animated 3D film depicting Chinese architectural masterpieces that disappeared thousands of years ago.

The audience was treated to vivid lessons in traditional Chinese architecture through digital recreations of intricately decorated wooden structures.

Ancient Chinese Architecture was broadcast from April 16 and 23 on CCTV-9, China Central Television's documentary channel, and it was well received by the nationwide audience.

The documentary was produced by Beijing Digital Light Magic Technology Ltd, an engineering and technology 3D demonstration service provider established in 2006.

Headquartered in Zhongguancun, the company is an expert in construction project demonstration, 3D data restoration, holography, circarama and 3D movies for projects related to oil-gas exploration, drilling, engineering and surface gathering.

Like Digital Light Magic Technology, many high-tech firms from Zhongguancun have an edge in technology in their respective fields.

With advantages in intellectual resources, innovative concepts and entrepreneurship, Zhongguancun is the nation's biggest cluster of leading national and international companies in information-based and scientific industries.

Zhongguancun has maintained the leading position since it became a national pilot of the modern service industry in July 2011 under an agreement signed by the National Development and Reform Commission, the ministries of finance, commerce, and science and technology, as well as the Beijing municipal government.

The modern service industry is an emerging sector with a new business model, service pattern and management system based on modern technologies, information network technology in particular.

Compared with the traditional service industry, modern services cater to the demand of modern city development and features both high technology and new culture.

To boost the sector, Zhongguancun Science Park, China's first national science and technology demonstration area, increased support to local companies involved in the industry.

To date, the park administration has provided financial support worth about 552 million yuan ($89.99 million) to nearly 60 of its modern service pilot projects.

Their efforts have paid dividends.

In the first quarter of this year, the modern service industry of the park posted a year-on-year increase of 19.1 percent to 335.84 billion yuan ($54.78 billion) in revenue, which accounted for 58 percent of the total increase in the park's revenue during the same period.

According to official statistics, the sector generated 1.7 trillion yuan in annual income last year, an increase of 30 percent from 2011.

A new industrial pattern has become an engine for the capital's modern service development, local officials say. This pattern is characterized by a combination of modern services, high-end manufacturing, science and culture, as well as the emergence of service organizations, such as service agencies, associations, and industrial alliances in the park.

chenzhilin@chinadaily.com.cn