Striving for the "15th Five-Year Plan" and forging a new chapter through practical efforts | "Made in China" is becoming the "innovation toolbox" for global creators

How Can Shenzhen’s Innovation Chain Accelerate the Going Global of Smart Hardware?

This year marks the beginning of the “14th Five-Year Plan,” and China’s foreign trade has shown rapid growth since the start of the year. In the first two months, imports and exports of goods increased by 18.3% year-on-year, with exports of electromechanical products growing by 24.3%, becoming an important support for stable foreign trade.

What new highlights are behind these achievements? Reporters visited the foreign trade hub of Shenzhen, diving deep into enterprises and innovation parks to find answers. First, let’s watch a segment from an overseas video.

At a recent professional exhibition in Germany, a new model of 3D printer from China was surrounded by crowds as soon as it was unveiled, with many people placing orders after trying it on-site. Why are these devices so popular overseas? American toy designer Mickey provided an answer.

Overseas User Mickey: These new 3D printers from China have greatly optimized my creative process, making toy design easier than ever. The new hardware from China integrates the latest and most advanced technologies, which is truly impressive.

What used to require an entire production line can now be completed on a “desktop” with just a few Chinese devices, allowing one person to manage an entire production line. This has attracted more and more people to join the maker movement. Matthew was originally just a regular office worker, but as Chinese hardware devices became increasingly diverse, his toolbox has also grown. He can now not only design models himself but also create complex dynamic board games.

Overseas User Matthew: The equipment I use that is made in China includes not only 3D printers but also laser engravers, as well as various manual tools that make work easier, such as cordless electric screwdrivers and ultrasonic cutting knives, all from China. I really love these tools; they not only make my work more efficient but also genuinely help me turn my ideas into reality.

The Shenzhen Gene in the “Innovation Toolbox”

A workbench is like a miniature factory; one person can complete the work of an entire production line. Today, innovative tools from China are becoming “treasures” in the global maker toolbox. Take 3D printers, for example; currently, 90% of the world’s products come from Shenzhen. What kind of “code” is hidden in the “innovation toolbox”? Let’s look at the reporter’s research in Shenzhen.

Following the “toolboxes” of overseas makers, the reporter arrived at a 3D printing company in Shenzhen. Here, rolls of material made from corn starch are heated and extruded, layer by layer, to form products. A design can often go from blueprint to physical product in just a few hours. The company leader told reporters that more than 70% of products are currently exported overseas, with orders already booked for three months ahead.

Shenzhen Tuo Zhu Technology Co., Ltd. Product Marketing Manager Zhou Chengxu: Our overseas markets mainly focus on regions with a strong maker and DIY culture in Europe and the United States, and recently, development in emerging markets like Latin America has also been very rapid.

However, a few years ago, this industry was stuck on “unstable core algorithms and insufficient motion control accuracy.” To break through the bottleneck, the R&D team iterated over a hundred versions within a year.

Shenzhen Tuo Zhu Technology Co., Ltd. Application Engineer Zhang Zesheng: Machines typically have some discrepancies in actual performance when they enter mass production. To address this issue, the entire R&D team specially went to the production line in the factory, staying there for several months, repeatedly optimizing software, printing, and comparing discrepancies. The entire team was determined to completely solve this problem.

With a “never give up” spirit, the speed of 3D printing doubled, and stability approached industrial levels. But equipment is just the entry point; what truly allows creativity to flow is a super active “model community.” This platform built by the company gathers millions of models uploaded by global creators, covering everything from art and education to fashion design, which users can download and print with one click.

Shenzhen Tuo Zhu Technology Co., Ltd. Maker World Operations Manager Huang Han: In fact, 3D printing has gradually transformed from a hobby into a very important new productive force. Overseas entrepreneurs use printers for prototype development and finalization, for teaching practices, and for the customization and design of personalized products, also engaging in some small-scale production.

A small 3D printing device connects global creativity and production capabilities, even changing the way manufacturing is done.

Entering the production workshop feels like stepping into a “farm” made up of machines. In this “farm,” instead of growing crops, they grow model files. Once an order arrives, the machines operate 24 hours a day, producing batches of products, from toys to various components needed by overseas makers.

Shenzhen Jin Shi Hua Su Technology Co., Ltd. Product Manager Wang Lu: The production model of 3D printing involves placing bulk orders and bulk harvesting. Our factory’s overseas orders account for 80% to 90%.

From equipment going global to extending ecosystems and driving new production methods, Shenzhen’s smart hardware is continuously embedding itself in the global innovation chain. Data from Shenzhen Customs shows that in the first two months of this year, Shenzhen’s total imports and exports reached 824.23 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 37.3%. The structure of goods continued to optimize and upgrade, with exports of products like 3D printers, digital cameras, and drones maintaining rapid growth, increasing by 183.7%, 68.9%, and 66.9% respectively, sustaining its top position in the country.

A Road Connecting the Entire Innovation Chain

In Nanshan District of Shenzhen, there is a road called Liuxian Avenue. This twelve-kilometer-long road connects universities and science and technology innovation platforms and gathers teams focused on hard tech, such as drones, service robots, and intelligent manufacturing equipment. How does one road connect the entire innovation chain and promote the rapid global launch of innovative products?

Following Liuxian Avenue westward brings us to the Chuangzhi Cloud City Industrial Park. Here, reporters observed that many products were designed with a clear “going global” gene from the start. Electric foam rollers, nitrogen coffee machines, and intelligent shoe washing machines may seem like “niche” products, but they are aimed at overseas segmented consumer markets, with many teams considering the usage habits and certification standards of European and American users from the design stage.

Yunwang Innovation Smart (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Founder Sun Yingdong: After exercising, everyone is particularly tired and in need of full-body muscle relaxation, so we created a product that meets this demand perfectly.

Some of these products have already entered overseas markets, while others are in the final sprint before mass production. They share a common point—each undergoes repeated “refinement” at the Chuangsu Workshop located in the same park. Upon entering the workshop, a coffee machine team was adjusting issues they had just discovered.

Jicui Innovation (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd. Founder Tan Tianyi: Last week, we found that the sealing washer of the pump developed cracks on one side due to heat after prolonged use, which ultimately led to breakage.

Identifying problems and making immediate corrections allows for rapid iteration, making products more mature and more closely aligned with the pace of overseas markets. In this 1,100-square-meter shared space, the cycle for an idea to become a prototype has been compressed from the original 4-5 years to 2-3 years.

Bolan Intelligent Innovation Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Founder Dong Shiyou: In the early stages, using 3D printing to quickly validate my models is the most efficient and cost-effective method.

During the investigation, reporters found that in Shenzhen, the key to truly getting products “up and running” is not just the equipment but the entire set of highly efficient and collaborative supply chains behind it. Centered around Liuxian Avenue, within a 15-minute drive, everything from motors, sensors, to structural components and material processes can be quickly matched, significantly reducing product development and delivery costs.

Shenzhen Academy of Science and Technology Supply Chain Senior Manager Wang Xun: Here you can find a variety of supply chain resources that are truly willing to accompany startup teams.

Currently, this capability is being amplified. The academy is building an online AI platform to integrate mature supply chain resources and product pathways, allowing more entrepreneurs to connect with the supply chain without coming to Shenzhen, accelerating their products’ entry into global markets.

Shenzhen Academy of Science and Technology Vice President Yu Ying: In the global innovation landscape, Shenzhen has some incomparable advantages in the field of smart hardware. Now, R&D, design, production, manufacturing, and AI capabilities all need to be in the same place to quickly iterate based on user feedback.

Breaking Through the “Last Mile” for Smart Hardware Going Global

During the investigation in Shenzhen, reporters observed that Shenzhen is transforming manufacturing capabilities into innovative strengths. However, how can good products smoothly enter the global market? In Shenzhen, the answer lies not only in the industrial chain but also in the continually improving overseas service system.

At a sharing session themed “Cross-Border E-Commerce Policy Promotion,” reporters saw that additional chairs were added to accommodate the crowd, which was still fully packed.

Staff Member Sun Jiayu: We initially had about 100 companies registered, but today approximately 130 companies showed up, with the majority being from the smart hardware industry, accounting for over 70% of the registered companies.

A large number of new products are being born in Shenzhen, and “going global” has become the most urgent next step for companies. After the meeting, many companies did not leave but continued to line up to consult on specific issues.

Shenzhen Leqi Innovation Co., Ltd. Brand Manager Shen Baoqi: There is now indeed a process for simplifying foreign exchange settlements that has been launched. Our company has transitioned to nearly all online foreign exchange settlements, easily done through the bank’s app, significantly reducing the foreign exchange settlement process.

From “Can we receive payments?” to “How to receive payments more efficiently and compliantly,” these details directly affect the cost and efficiency of companies going global. Meanwhile, the newly introduced policies in February this year, such as “tax exemption without receipts,” have also become a focal point for companies. Currently, local business departments are continuously improving the functions of the overseas service platform around key links such as customs clearance, logistics, finance, and compliance.

Director of Foreign Trade Division, Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Commerce Dong Jianpeng: We are fully promoting Shenzhen’s innovative advantages and technological strengths to accelerate their transformation into product advantages, continuously enhancing the technological content and added value of products. During the “14th Five-Year Plan,” Shenzhen will promote the quality and efficiency of foreign trade, drive innovative development of trade, promote deep integration of industrial chains and trade chains, and foster positive interactions between trade and industry.

(CCTV reporter Wang Yan, Ding Yani, Lin Shan, Zhu Ping, Shenzhen Station)