Shanghai pioneers AI-driven low-altitude economy ecosystem at WAIC forum

The AI Empowering the Future Sky Forum under the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference was held at the IBP International Convention Center in Changning District on July 27.

During the event, the Shanghai Low-Altitude Economy Lounge was launched, alongside the establishment of the Shanghai AI + Low-Altitude Economy Industrial Innovation Consortium and the Shanghai Low-Altitude Economy Industrial Chain Financial Services Alliance.

The Shanghai Low-Altitude Economy Lounge will be located in the East Hongqiao Center, covering a total floor area of about 1,200 square meters. It will feature three core functional zones: an exhibition area, a communication and events area, and a reserved expansion area.

The lounge will provide four key services—industrial investment attraction, airworthiness certification services, flight services, and financial-legal support—while also serving as a platform for industrial display, collaborative exchange, and RD& transformation.

With a core model of “policy innovation + scenario openness + ecosystem synergy,” it aims to support industrial innovation and national strategic needs, helping the Hongqiao International Low-Altitude Economy Industrial Park become Shanghai’s hub for low-altitude economic innovation.

The newly formed Shanghai AI + Low-Altitude Economy Industrial Innovation Consortium will focus on integrating government, industry, academia, and research in the low-altitude economy sector, as well as industrial chain coordination and low-altitude infrastructure development, providing a foundation for high-quality industrial growth.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Low-Altitude Economy Industrial Chain Financial Services Alliance will strengthen financial support and enhance efficiency in advancing Shanghai’s low-altitude economy.

Centered on the deep integration of AI and the low-altitude economy, this forum brought together global expertise, along with representatives from government, enterprises, and research institutions, to establish a high-level platform for collaboration and innovation. It aims to accelerate the convergence of technology, industry, and finance, helping Shanghai become a leader in the low-altitude economy and driving the sector toward broader global development.

Changning District, home to 60 percent of Shanghai’s base airlines, over 800 aviation enterprises, and more than 20 aviation functional institutions in areas such as airworthiness certification, airspace management, and flight services, boasts a solid first-mover advantage and strong brand influence in developing the low-altitude economy.