National Data Bureau: Strengthen the foundation of digital infrastructure and enhance data empowerment for artificial intelligence development

The National Data Bureau has issued the “Key Points for Digital Economy Development in 2026.” It proposes eight key focus tasks.

First, deepen the reform of market-oriented allocation of data elements. Accelerate the establishment of a unified national system for registering data property rights, issue registration guidelines, and promote localities to establish and improve mechanisms for forming public data authorization and operation prices. Formulate and issue policy documents related to building an open, shared, and secure national integrated data market.

Second, strengthen the foundation of digital infrastructure. Accelerate the construction of a national integrated computing power network, and promote coordinated planning and deployment of resources such as data, networks, computing power, and energy. Proceed prudently with the construction of data infrastructure, and support the building of demonstration facilities in industry and fields.

Third, strengthen data enablement for the development of artificial intelligence. Implement six major special campaigns: strengthening the foundational capabilities and expanding capacity, enabling applications, improving quality and efficiency, management and services, value realization, and breakthroughs in data annotation. Form a batch of benchmark, high-quality datasets that meet AI readiness requirements, effectively train advanced models, and practically address industry challenges.

Fourth, enhance the core competitiveness of the digital economy. Develop, in light of local conditions, innovation-led, regional pillar, and regionally distinctive digital industry clusters. Cultivate innovative digital-economy enterprises. Build a “government + enterprises + innovation + investment” four-in-one professional selection and cultivation mechanism. Establish a cultivation pool for innovative digital-economy enterprises and conduct enterprise selections.

Fifth, promote deep integration between the real economy and the digital economy. Thoroughly advance the action plan for the digital transformation of manufacturing, and the implementation plans for digital transformation in key industries. Accelerate enabling services sector expansion and quality improvement. Enrich service supply such as data resource operation, data technology innovation, and data analysis applications. Encourage exploration of new models for data application services featuring risk sharing and benefit sharing. Center on building major scenarios enabled by data, and cultivate a group of service providers for intelligent and digital transformation.

Sixth, enhance capabilities for digital governance and services.

Seventh, deepen international cooperation in the digital economy.

Eighth, create a favorable environment for development.