On September 21, during the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention, the 2026 Hefei Smart Sensor Industry Development Conference was held in Luyang District, drawing over 200 companies, universities, research institutes, and investment organizations from across the country. The event focused on exploring cutting-edge sensor technology, facilitating supply-demand industry connections, and supporting Hefei's efforts to reinforce smart sensors as a strategically vital foundational industry.
At the conference, representatives from the University of Science and Technology of China, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China Jiliang University, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the 38th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hefei) Technology Innovation Research Institute engaged in in-depth discussions. These talks centered on global sensor technology evolution, domestic substitution, and application deployment, offering insights to drive high-quality growth in Hefei's sensor sector.
Ahead of the conference, 10 high-quality technology projects had already been finalized, spanning aerospace components, core sensor components, and high-end laser equipment. Innovative companies such as Wenke Intelligent, Runyu Sensor, and Yuanjie Technology have established operations, adding fresh momentum to the city's sensor industry landscape.
Sensors serve as the "nerve endings" of smart manufacturing, new energy vehicles, and artificial intelligence, and are core foundational components supporting advanced manufacturing. In recent years, backed by Hefei's strong industrial base in new energy vehicles, advanced displays, semiconductors, and high-end equipment, the city's smart sensor industry has built a solid foundation for growth.
Industry data shows that over 70% of Hefei's smart sensor companies focus on industrial internet and consumer electronics, with notable competitive advantages in niche areas such as automotive environmental perception and precision optical detection. Automotive electronics represent the largest downstream market for sensors. With the rapid adoption of intelligent driving, the number and value of sensors installed per vehicle continue to climb, with market demand from Hefei's new energy vehicle industry projected to reach 15 billion yuan by 2030.
As a comprehensive national science center, Hefei hosts a cluster of national-level research platforms, providing a steady stream of innovation for sensor technology breakthroughs. Major institutions like the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences continue to deliver research outcomes, while new R&D bodies such as the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hefei) Technology Innovation Research Institute and the Beijing Information Science and Technology University Hefei Innovation Research Institute have been established. These efforts bridge the gap from laboratory technology to industrialized products, building an innovation ecosystem where research and industry reinforce each other, and transforming scientific potential into industrial development momentum.
In terms of spatial planning, the city has coordinated resources across the region to advance sensor industry clustering. Take the Hefei International Sensor Manufacturing Port as an example. As a key platform for the city's smart sensor industry, it has developed a "one port, seven parks" model, integrating the Smart Sensor Industrial Park, the "Xin Luzhou" Integrated Circuit Industrial Park, and the Hefei Scientific Instrument Industrial Park—seven specialized zones within the port—totaling 3 million square meters of industrial space. The port covers the full value chain, including R&D piloting, testing and certification, incubation and acceleration, and mass production. To date, it has attracted over 100 companies, fostering one listed company on the STAR Market, five national-level "little giant" specialized enterprises, and 31 high-tech enterprises. These companies span the complete chain from sensor chips and core components to scientific instruments, intelligent systems, and application scenarios, with many achieving key technological breakthroughs and successfully bringing products to market.
In recent years, a wave of tech companies focused on precision sensing and high-end instruments have continued to break through critical technical barriers, accelerating their shift from "technology breakthroughs" to "market expansion." Zhongke Reyi expects its full-year equipment shipments in 2026 to double year-over-year, with first-half revenue surging 125% compared to the same period last year. Its self-developed upgraded 3D sensor delivers performance at internationally leading levels. Laowa Lens' core optical sensing technology supported the 8K space documentary "The Blue Planet Outside the Window," capturing ultra-high-definition footage in space. Its products now reach more than 90 countries and regions through nearly 700 sales outlets. Huachuang Hongdu's picosecond ultrafast lasers have broken overseas monopolies, achieving domestic mass production.
On the afternoon of the conference, three parallel sessions were held: a smart sensor supply-demand matchmaking event, project roadshows, and thematic sharing sessions. Attendees, including experts and corporate representatives, also toured the Fusion Innovation Exhibition Hall and the Hefei International Sensor Manufacturing Port, observing industrial infrastructure and the results of technology innovation transfer.
Looking ahead, Hefei plans to continue leveraging its advantages in major scientific facilities and research institutions, combined with application scenarios from industries like new energy vehicles and semiconductors. The city will keep expanding upstream and downstream sensor industry players, strengthen coordination across funds, infrastructure, and policy support, and promote broader domestic substitution of sensor technologies. The goal is to build a smart sensor industry cluster with national influence, cementing a solid foundation for high-quality manufacturing growth across the city.