OVC's exhibition center sets tone for industrial development

In 2024, the China Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center in the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC) hosted 115 major industry conferences, with agreements on numerous projects signed, showcasing the growing influence of the "exhibitions + industries" development model in OVC.

As the only modern exhibition complex in the country taking technology as its core, the center serves as a crucial barometer of the development level of industries in OVC. Jiang Xingsheng, the general manager of Guocai (Wuhan) Exhibition Operations Management Co, stated that in 2024, the number of exhibitors and visitors at the center exceeded 2.3 million, a 27.8-percent year-on-year increase and a record high.

The 2024 Optics Valley of China·Optoelectronic Information Industry Innovation and Development Forum. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

"The center always stays in tune with the development of industries in OVC," said Jiang. In 2024, the exhibitions held at the center saw the addition of hot industries such as artificial intelligence and chips, big data, life sciences, new energy, and new materials, unprecedented in variety and frequency.

At the 2024 Optics Valley of China·Optoelectronic Information Industry Innovation and Development Forum, for example, over 20 internationally leading and 19 domestically leading innovative achievements were unveiled, with a total contract value of approximately 38.63 billion yuan ($5.33 billion) signed in OVC, including 10 significant projects in various specialized fields such as semiconductors and technology equipment.

"As a result, a large number of upstream and downstream enterprises have gathered in the area, injecting vitality into the high-quality development of industries in OVC," said Jiang. This year, exhibitions to be held at the center are scheduled until the end of March, which will better support the innovation and development of industries in OVC.