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Beijing E-Town Creates a Hub for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing Industries

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2 years ago

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Beijing E-Town

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 August 2024 – On August 21, the highly anticipated World Robot Conference 2024 (WRC 2024) grandly opened at the Beijing Etrong International Exhibition & Convention Center, once again drawing global attention to the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (Beijing E-Town). As the main hub for high-end industries in the capital, Beijing E-Town has fully utilized the platform of WRC to promote the integration of production and conferences, meticulously planning industry connections and project promotions, and conducting in-depth industry forums, visits, exchanges, and project roadshows to facilitate more technological innovation achievements in the development area.

By the second day of the conference, Beijing E-Town had signed a total of 22 key projects, primarily covering two major sectors: the embodied intelligence ecosystem and components + intelligent manufacturing, further enhancing its role as a gravitational field for the robotics and intelligent manufacturing industries.

As the permanent venue of the World Robot Conference, Beijing E-Town has taken this opportunity to deeply engage in the conference, fully showcasing its strength and appeal as the primary hub for high-end industries in the capital. Zhang Qiang, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), and Kong Lei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Administrative Committee of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), led teams to meet face-to-face with over ten well-known robot manufacturing companies, international organizations, investment institutions, and scientists from various countries and regions. They listened attentively, investigated the development status of the artificial intelligence industry, and introduced in detail the development and policy situation of Beijing and Beijing E-Town’s AI industry, aligning resource needs, demonstrating sincerity, and seeking cooperation.

Zhang Qiang introduced to the enterprises that Beijing, as the region with the highest density of AI talent, the best innovation foundation, the most complete key links, the largest industry scale, and the strongest competitiveness in the country, has achieved a series of nationally and globally pioneering technological achievements. As a trailblazer for high-quality development in the new era and a “ballast stone” for the capital’s real economy, Beijing E-Town is deeply implementing the national “AI+” strategy and the decisions and deployments of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government. It positions artificial intelligence as a key engine to vigorously advance the development of new-quality productive forces, fully leveraging its innovative resource advantages to plan and cultivate an AI industry aligned with the industrial system, strongly supporting the construction of Beijing as an international center for technological innovation and the innovative development of future industries.

Kong Lei explained that Beijing E-Town is vigorously building an innovative system that spans from algorithm breakthroughs and model development to scenario creation and industrial transformation, constructing a city of artificial intelligence for the future. The first batch of ten benchmark application scenarios, including “AI + humanoid robots,” is under construction. Here, centered around “large models + big data + massive computing power,” support is provided for building the Beijing Artificial Intelligence Data Training Base to solidify the foundation of the AI industry. Currently, 5000P high-performance intelligent computing power has been put into use, with a planned computing power scale exceeding 10,000P. Relying on the data aggregation platform, a high-quality data zone is being constructed, implementing a “regulatory sandbox” mechanism for data compliance and scenario application for large model training, providing a secure and trustworthy application training environment. Additionally, the Beijing Artificial Intelligence Data Training Base has been established to help large models develop the “strongest brain.”

At the “Embodied Intelligence Industry Trends and Future Development Forum” held on August 22 during the WRC 2024, Beijing E-Town signed agreements with eight companies, including the Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center, Beijing Chietcom Transmission Technology Co., Ltd., and Beijing Ant Non-standard Technology Co., Ltd., for projects involving a “national-level” embodied intelligence innovation platform that addresses common industry issues, a domestically leading flexible and agile manufacturing service for industrial components to supplement the synergy of high-end manufacturing industries, and the independently developed high-precision reducers that achieve domestic substitution. With this, Beijing E-Town has signed a total of 22 key projects during this year’s robot conference.

With its official renaming from “Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center” to “Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center” (referred to as the Innovation Center), the national-level embodied intelligence innovation platform will accelerate its development in Beijing E-Town. “In November 2023, with support from the Beijing Municipal Government and attraction from Beijing E-Town, as the first innovation center in China focusing on the core technologies, product development, and application ecosystem of humanoid robots, we registered and settled in E-Town. In April this year, we also launched China’s first general-purpose robot platform, ‘Tiangong,’ achieving the world’s first humanoid running with a full-sized pure electric humanoid robot,” said Xiong Youjun, General Manager of the Innovation Center. “Next, we will focus on tackling major projects in response to the urgent needs of national strategic priorities, creating the world’s first general humanoid robot ‘hardware mother platform’ and the first large model + open-source motion control system ‘software mother platform.’ This will support the development of bodies for multiple application fields, solve ‘bottleneck’ problems that restrict industrial development, lead the high-quality development of China’s robotics industry, and enhance its global competitiveness.”

Seizing the opportunities in the development of embodied intelligent robots, Beijing E-Town has also attracted a number of embodied intelligence ecosystem enterprises, including projects like IAT’s AI.X Lab. Additionally, in the components + intelligent manufacturing sector, Beijing E-Town shows a high-end layout in cutting-edge fields, whether by promoting investment expansion or introducing new partners. Chietcom, which has been established in Beijing E-Town for six years, plans to invest 300 million yuan to build its headquarters, an industrial and humanoid robot high-precision reducer technology research and development center, and an intelligent manufacturing production line. The aim is to establish a globally leading engineering test platform and comprehensive testing platform, aspiring to become a leading R&D and manufacturing center and innovation hub for high-precision reducers for industrial and humanoid robots in China. The Ant Factory, a leading domestic provider of flexible and agile manufacturing services for industrial components, will invest in building a 40,000-square-meter advanced manufacturing base in Beijing E-Town. By 2025, it is expected to establish local service capabilities, significantly reducing the time for local enterprises to process component designs.

Meanwhile, leveraging its spatial carrying advantages, Beijing E-Town Robot Technology Industry Development Co., Ltd., as a platform company, has signed five projects on-site, including the Ti5 humanoid robot project and the Neurocean’s “Dexterous Hand” project, which will be located in the Beijing Robot Industry Park at Courtyard 3, Jinghai 5th Road, Beijing E-Town.

As the permanent venue for the World Robot Conference, Beijing E-Town has formed the “44637” development system, which is guided by four national strategies, consolidates and strengthens four leading industries, comprehensively deploys six future industries, enhances three integrated empowerments, and builds seven supporting systems. Among these, the output value of the robotics and intelligent manufacturing industries is nearly 100 billion yuan. An official from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area stated, “With the landing of a new batch of key projects, innovation resources and industry chain support have been further improved, accelerating the gathering of international talents, technology, capital, and other industrial cluster elements. Using the conference as a medium, Beijing E-Town will accelerate the breakthrough development of the robotics and intelligent manufacturing industries, positioning more new-quality productive forces for future industrial layouts.”

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SLB commissions new fluids systems plant in Pemba to support Mozambique’s offshore energy development

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17 hours ago

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October 9, 2026

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Mozambique

New facility expands in-country drilling and completion fluids capability, advancing the next phase of SLB’s growth in Mozambique

PEMBA, Mozambique, October 9, 2026/APO Group/ –SLB (NYSE: SLB) (www.SLB.com) announced the opening of a new fluids systems plant in Pemba, Mozambique. The new facility strengthens in-country capacity to prepare, store and deliver drilling and completion fluids for offshore operations, reinforcing the infrastructure needed as Mozambique’s offshore activity grows and its role as a strategic energy hub for East Africa continues to expand.

The commissioning of the plant, also known as a liquid mud plant, coincides with SLB marking 70 years of operations in Mozambique. It reflects the company’s long-term commitment to investing in people, infrastructure and capability that support the country’s long-term offshore energy development plans.

 




  

With an initial storage capacity of 21,000 barrels, the liquid mud plant provides a scalable platform for future growth, supporting multiple customers and rising offshore activity while improving logistics and enhancing operational flexibility.

As SLB marks 70 years in Mozambique, this investment reflects our confidence in the country’s future and our commitment to supporting its energy ambitions

“As SLB marks 70 years in Mozambique, this investment reflects our confidence in the country’s future and our commitment to supporting its energy ambitions,” said Miguel Baptista, Central, East and Southern Africa, Managing Director, SLB. The new liquid mud plant strengthens local energy infrastructure, expands opportunities for local content development, and enhances our ability to support customers as they deliver some of Africa’s most significant offshore energy resources.”

The liquid mud plant project was delivered with strong local participation and that momentum is expected to continue into operations. During project delivery, more than 100 jobs were created in Pemba with nationals representing 80% of the workforce, reflecting a focus on building local capability.

The project was delivered with a strong focus on safety, operational integrity, and quality, achieving more than 67,000 hours worked without a recordable safety incident.

This key infrastructure strengthens SLB’s ability to support consistent service quality and enhance supply chain readiness for increasing offshore activity across Mozambique, supporting customers execute safely and efficiently while developing local skills and expertise.

Key Points:

  • SLB has commissioned a new fluids system plant in Pemba, expanding in-country drilling and completion fluids capability for offshore operations.
  • With an initial storage capacity of 21,000 barrels, the facility provides a scalable platform to support growing offshore activity in Mozambique.
  • The investment marks the next phase of SLB’s growth in Mozambique, strengthening local capability and supporting long-term offshore energy development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of SLB.

 

 




 

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South African Energy Storage Association (SAESA) welcomes 4,600 MW battery storage prioritisation and calls for integrated energy planning

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17 hours ago

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October 9, 2026

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Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming critical system infrastructure, supporting flexibility, reducing avoidable curtailment, shifting energy into periods of demand and strengthening security of supply

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 9, 2026/APO Group/ –The South African Energy Storage Association (SAESA) (www.SAESA.org.za) welcomes the prioritisation of 4,600 MW of battery energy storage under the first Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 Section 34 determination.

 




  

The timing is significant. Recent Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) modelling and assumptions discussions highlighted a fundamental shift that South Africa’s energy planning now needs to capture: we cannot plan the future power system by counting megawatts of generation alone.

We must plan for when energy is available, where it is available, how it moves through a constrained grid and how it is stored and dispatched when the system needs it most.

The announcement reinforces that shift. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming critical system infrastructure, supporting flexibility, reducing avoidable curtailment, shifting energy into periods of demand and strengthening security of supply.

For SAESA, the message for the IEP is clear: storage, flexibility and system services must be modelled as integral components of South Africa’s future electricity architecture, with their contribution considered from the outset of generation planning.

“The IEP must plan the power system we are becoming, not simply model the power system we have inherited,” says SAESA.

The IEP must plan the power system we are becoming, not simply model the power system we have inherited

Partnership with C&I Energy + Storage Summit

SAESA is an association partner of the C&I Energy + Storage Summit, created by VUKA Group, taking place on 28–29 October 2026 at The Maslow Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg.

The summit brings together commercial and industrial energy users, project developers, financiers, regulators and solution providers to explore practical approaches to energy security, procurement and storage deployment.

For businesses assessing how storage can support their operations, the event offers an opportunity to meet SAESA and engage with the wider energy community on the decisions shaping South Africa’s evolving electricity system.

Commercial and industrial energy decision-makers are invited to apply to attend as hosted buyers. Qualifying buyers receive complimentary summit access and curated opportunities to engage with industry partners.

 

Meet SAESA at C&I Energy + Storage Summit: Join the Hosted Buyer Programme

The Hosted Buyer Programme connects commercial and industrial energy decision-makers with solution providers shaping South Africa’s evolving private energy market.

Qualified energy buyers receive complimentary access to the summit and curated engagement with industry partners exploring energy procurement, storage deployment and project development.

Apply for the Hosted Buyer Programme (https://apo-opa.co/4ehLijJ)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

 




 

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Afreximbank welcomes launch of Africa Credit Rating Agency as an important step in strengthening Africa’s financial architecture

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23 hours ago

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October 9, 2026

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Expanding credible rating coverage can improve the information available to investors and support the development of deeper domestic and regional capital markets

PORT LOUIS, Mauritius, October 8, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) welcomes today’s launch of the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA), an important milestone in strengthening Africa’s financial architecture and expanding the continent’s capacity to generate credible, independent analysis of African credit risk.

 




 
 

Credit ratings play an important role in determining access to capital, influencing investor perceptions and shaping the cost at which governments, institutions and businesses can finance development. It is therefore essential that assessments of African credit risk are independent, rigorous and evidence-based, while reflecting a complete understanding of the structures, institutions and economic realities being assessed.

The establishment of AfCRA adds an important African-led source of credit opinion to the market. Its value will not be measured by whether it produces more favourable ratings, but by the credibility of its analysis, the quality of its data and transparency of its methodology, and its ability to deepen understanding of African sovereigns, sub-sovereigns and corporate credit.

This is particularly important given that many African issuers remain unrated, while local-currency and sub-sovereign markets continue to have limited rating coverage. Expanding credible rating coverage can improve the information available to investors and support the development of deeper domestic and regional capital markets.

AfCRA must set a new benchmark for the continent, maintain its independence, and remain wholly owned and controlled by Africans

Alongside fellow members of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), Afreximbank has consistently maintained that African Multilateral Financial Institutions should be assessed on the basis of their fundamentals, performance, legal frameworks, mandates and operating models. Ensuring that these institutional characteristics are properly understood is essential to achieving informed, balanced and credible assessments of African risk.

Commenting on the uniqueness of the African market, and need for AfCRA’s rating methodology to reflect this, Mr Denys Denya, Senior Executive Vice President, Afreximbank, said: “The rating methodology AfCRA develops must recognise the uniqueness of our environment and its institutional structures. The Agency must set its own standards and not follow those set elsewhere — it must build a unique identity that conforms to an ‘African best practice.”

Highlighting the need for the autonomy of the Africa Credit Rating agency as it takes off, Mr Denya added: “Most importantly, AfCRA must set a new benchmark for the continent, maintain its independence, and remain wholly owned and controlled by Africans. We must all use it, and in return expect a complete assessment of where we (Africa) stand: the strengths the market has ignored, and the weaknesses we still need to fix.”

AfCRA should therefore be seen as complementary to existing international and regional rating agencies, broadening the range of credible analysis available to investors and issuers while strengthening competition, transparency and analytical capacity within Africa’s credit markets.

As Africa seeks to mobilise the scale of capital required for industrialisation, trade, infrastructure and economic transformation, credible African institutions that improve information, strengthen market confidence and deepen the continent’s financial markets will become increasingly important.

Afreximbank congratulates the African Union, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and all those involved in bringing AfCRA from concept to launch, and looks forward to the contribution the Agency will make to deeper, more transparent and more efficient African capital markets.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

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