China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has initiated a dedicated campaign to bolster the country's artificial intelligence applications sector. The plan, detailed in a notice issued on August 31, sets an initial target of having over 2,000 AI application service providers in a national resource pool by the end of 2026, aiming to create a well-structured and collaborative ecosystem with significantly enhanced capabilities for handling complex deployments.

These service providers are defined as enterprises or institutions that offer comprehensive support for users' digital transformation, including solution consulting, project implementation, ongoing operations, and security governance. Under the campaign, a nationwide resource pool will be established to systematically track and enhance the technological innovation, integration, and compliance capabilities of these providers.

The initiative sets a more ambitious goal of at least 3,000 providers in the national pool by the end of 2027, with the aim of creating a fully integrated AI application service environment that covers all key elements, value chains, and usage scenarios. To address current industry challenges, the plan outlines four primary tasks: conducting a thorough survey of providers to build a detailed national database; establishing an application service consortium to improve collaboration and risk communication; promoting standardized service offerings to create replicable solutions and expand market opportunities; and leveraging tools like "computing vouchers" to secure essential resources while supporting joint training facilities for field engineers.

The ministry will strengthen oversight and provide policy support to regions that demonstrate successful implementation, with plans to launch an online platform for the resource pool to facilitate information sharing and efficient resource allocation.