The inaugural Guangzhou Innovation Science and Technology Awards were announced on Sept 8, with Tianhe district standing out among the winners.

As a key platform for innovation recognition supporting Guangzhou's efforts to build a modern industrial system, the event honored 123 projects and individuals across six categories.

The awards covered the entire innovation chain, from basic research and technological breakthroughs to industrial applications, technology transfer and commercialization, talent development, and collaborative innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Tianhe secured 101 awards, accounting for over 80 percent of the total. The district claimed 77.8 percent of the Natural Science Awards, 62.5 percent of the Technological Invention Awards, 37.9 percent of the Technological Progress Awards, 66.7 percent of the Technology Commercialization Awards, and 52.4 percent of the Sci-Tech Innovation Elite and GBA Collaboration Awards.

The inaugural Guangzhou Innovation Science and Technology Awards Ceremony. [Photo/thnet.gov.cn]

This success stems from breakthroughs in key industries like artificial intelligence, life sciences, smart equipment, modern agriculture, new energy and smart construction.

Tianhe's AI sector alone reported revenues of 20.85 billion yuan ($3.1 billion) in the first half of 2025, up 10.9 percent year-on-year. The district's life sciences industry surpassed 30 billion yuan in revenue in 2024, while smart equipment innovations are increasingly integrated into industrial applications.

Tianhe's innovation has  boosted economic growth, with over 51,000 new tech firms established in 2025 and a digital economy contributing 22.1 percent to its GDP. This aligns with Tianhe's strategy of building a modern industrial system focused on strategic and future industry clusters.