China has inaugurated a new state-owned National Data Group as the country steps up efforts to develop its data economy and strengthen its position in the global race for artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The group was officially launched on Tuesday in Xiongan, a developing city about 100 kilometres southwest of Beijing, according to Chinese state media. It will focus on developing, managing and utilising data resources, with the aim of increasing data sharing across industries and regions.
The new organisation is expected to serve as a national platform for promoting the movement and exchange of data between different sectors of the economy. This could help businesses and other institutions access and use data more effectively, while creating opportunities for new products, services and commercial models.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the group would work with multiple stakeholders to develop the country’s data economy, explore new business models and expand the market for data resources.
China’s Vice-Premier, Ding Xuexiang, attended the inauguration ceremony in Xiongan on Tuesday. He said the establishment of the group was significant for helping the country seize opportunities in artificial intelligence and strengthen its competitive advantage, according to state media.
The launch comes as governments and technology companies increasingly treat data as a strategic economic resource. Access to large volumes of data is important for developing and training artificial intelligence systems, improving digital services and supporting the creation of new technology products.
By creating a state-owned group dedicated to the development and commercial use of data, China is seeking to improve how such resources are shared and put to work across its economy. The initiative could also help businesses identify commercial opportunities in data that might otherwise remain fragmented across industries and regions.
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The group will be headquartered in Xiongan, a city being developed as part of China’s plans to establish a modern urban and economic hub outside Beijing. Its location places the new organisation within a broader national development project as China seeks to expand infrastructure and support economic activity beyond the capital.
China established the National Data Administration in 2023 to oversee policy design and coordination in the data sector. The administration’s responsibilities differ from those of the newly inaugurated National Data Group, according to CCTV.
While the administration focuses on policy, the state-owned group will concentrate on market operations and the implementation and utilisation of data resources. The arrangement is intended to connect government policy with practical efforts to develop the data market and expand its economic value.
The inauguration reflects Beijing’s wider ambition to strengthen its influence in the global competition for data resources, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly important area of technological and economic rivalry.
However, Chinese state media reports did not provide details of the group’s initial investment, funding structure, commercial targets or the specific industries it will prioritise. Its eventual impact will depend in part on how it develops data-sharing arrangements and translates the country’s data resources into practical economic activity.
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Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
