Shanghai's innovation center fuels AI large model development

The SMC Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center stands as one of China's first dedicated incubators and accelerators for large-scale AI models.
[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chen highlighted the increasingly vibrant interaction among community enterprises driven by frequent entrepreneurial idea exchanges, such as private thought sessions centered around the AIGC track. "These have fostered a positive ecosystem reaction as founders share business strategies and technology forecasts," he said.

"We have benefited from the presence of many large model enterprises at the center, facilitating horizontal exchanges and broadening our perspectives, including access to leading market insights," said Shen Weifeng, vice-president of HiDream.ai, an early resident specializing in using AI to generate images and videos.

Zhang Bing, a product manager at Midu, one of the first enterprises to settle in the center focusing on governmental large models, said, "Our team started with only around 10 people last year, and now we have over 100 employees, significantly exceeding our expectations. The most crucial factor is the attention and support from the national and local governments for this industry."

With the first and second phases of the nearly 20,000 square meter SMC innovation ecosystem already operational, and the third phase concurrently being planned, nearly 70 large model-related enterprises have already joined the community.

SMC has set ambitious goals, according to Chen, including 100,000 square meters of innovation space, over 100 resident enterprises, 1,000 large industry model applications, and the nurturing of a trillion-yuan emerging industry.

"Propelled by the industry's rapid growth momentum, our targets have already exceeded expectations," Chen said. "We aspire to become the Launchpad for founders of China's leading large model enterprises."