Smart technology helps software park stay top

The eco-friendly Shanghai Pudong Software Park aims to become an innovation hub for the industry. CHINA DAILY

After two decades of development, the Shanghai Pudong Software Park has established itself as one of the top among its peers in China, and is looking to become a world-class innovation center for the software industry.

"Now the largest base for software development in Shanghai, the park has set its goals higher by aiming to make the entire park 'smarter'," said a senior official at the park.

Shanghai Pudong Software Park Co Ltd, the developer and operator of the software hub in the east of Shanghai, compiled development plans for an overall upgrade of the park in 2013. The proposals included adopting "smart" technologies, such as the Internet-of-Things and cloud computing, as well as big data analysis to provide better services for the park's companies.

A standardized program for developing "smart" high-tech parks nationally was released at the beginning of this year. The program was partly drafted by the SPSP and the park was selected by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as the first batch of pilot areas to construct a "smart park".

In the wake of rapid urbanization in China, there have been nearly 100 "smart city" programs nationwide.

An important part of smart city construction is the inclusion of smart parks.

Introducing smart technology to enhance core competitiveness and achieve sustainable development is recognized by the majority of park operators.

In terms of smart public services, the SPSP has developed an IT Services Cloud called SPSP Huizhi. It is based on the latest cloud computing technology and aims to help build a high-end IT service platform for companies registered with SPSP.

The project helped small and medium sized enterprises, which make up nearly half of all companies in SPSP, reduce their IT expenditure and transition into cloud computing services, said a development and planning official at SPSP.

The project led to a convergence of enterprises related to the cloud computing industry to build the SPSP into a base for cloud computing with influence on both domestic and foreign markets, he added.

"The Huizhi cloud service has received praise from users," said the official. "The functions and performances of the park will be further improved in the future, to make it one of the best in China," the official said.

According to a goal set by the SPSP in its 2014 annual plan, the income of cloud computing was expected to exceed 20 million yuan ($3.3 million) this year.

The SPSP established an information-sharing and full-cycle management system for its clients.

The system optimized the allocation of resources and provided information for company decision makers. The system can also analyze company data to help better predict the park's future.

The SPSP, which was founded in July 1992, is a national center for the software industry and a base for software exports.

As of December 2013, the park completed 1.15 million square meters of land development and provided 570,000 sq m of office space for software companies.

There are currently 1,391 enterprises registered with the park, among which 562 have offices in the park, employing 38,000 people.

In 2013, software developers and information service companies in the park generated a total income of 55.2 billion yuan, paid 2.94 billion yuan in tax, and exported $760 million worth of software products.

According to the park's 12th Five Year Plan (2011-15), the park aims to achieve a total output value of 60 billion yuan by 2015, up from 26.7 billion yuan by the end of 2012.

Chip design is expected to account for 15 billion yuan, or about a quarter of the total output, while mobile Internet companies are expected to contribute 5 billion yuan.