Insights from Frost & Sullivan During the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, the city announced plans to create a high-level autonomous driving pilot zone. What significance does this hold for industry development? Is there an obvious shift in policy attitude compared to previous deployments of Robotaxis in specific areas by major cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen (for example, from cautious exploration to active promotion)? This year, the implementation and advancement of intelligent driving solutions providers like Pony.ai and WeRide are accelerating overseas markets. Coupled with Tesla's attempts, why does it seem that the Robotaxis market is advancing more actively this year? Previously, the main challenges for Robotaxis deployment were mass production costs and operational maintenance costs. Have domestic manufacturers achieved significant cost reductions in these two areas this year? What are the reasons? Besides the relatively positive attitude in the United States, which markets abroad have a higher acceptance of new business models like Robotaxis and show more visible commercial progress?   Yan Yiyang, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China region, was interviewed by 21st Century Business Herald to discuss the underlying logic of Robotaxis entering the fast lane.   21st Century Business Herald Q: During the WAIC in Shanghai, the city announced plans to create a high-level autonomous driving pilot zone. What significance does this hold for industry development? Is there an obvious shift in policy attitude compared to previous deployments of Robotaxis in specific areas by major cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen (for example, from cautious exploration to active promotion)? Yan Yiyang Analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China region This year, Shanghai released the 'Shanghai High-Level Autonomous Driving Pilot Zone "Model Speed Smart Mobility" Action Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the 'Action Plan') at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in 2025. Its main contents can be summarized into the following key points: 1) Large-scale autonomous driving, with clear targets for passenger capacity and road testing of Level 4 autonomous driving, far exceeding previous pilot operations in small areas and limited capacity; 2) Networked application scenarios, aiming to build a regional comprehensive operation network, breaking the previous limitations of point and block testing areas; 3) Industrial ecosystem, promoting the construction of an autonomous driving industry ecosystem that includes complete vehicles, core components, algorithms, data, and operational services. From the perspective of industrial development, the release of the 'Action Plan' marks a determination to accelerate the further scale-up and commercialization of China's autonomous driving and Robotaxis industries. The 'Action Plan' conveys confidence in the continuous improvement of autonomous driving technology maturity and reveals an urgent need for the commercial implementation of Robotaxis. At the same time, achieving large-scale commercial operation of Robotaxis in Shanghai and forming a complete 'Shanghai solution' that includes technical standards, operational norms, safety supervision, and regulatory applications will provide a model for further promoting the implementation of Robotaxis nationwide and greatly accelerate the development progress of the Robotaxis market. Compared with previous small-scale commercial pilot deployments of Robotaxis in specific areas by cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the 'Action Plan' clarifies the policy attitude towards truly integrating autonomous driving into urban transportation ecosystems and the urgent need to break through profit bottlenecks and operational models brought about by regional pilots. This also indicates that China's autonomous driving policy will develop in a more systematic and open direction.     Q: This year, the implementation and advancement of intelligent driving solutions providers like Pony.ai and WeRide are accelerating overseas markets. What are the reasons? Besides the relatively positive attitude in the United States, which markets abroad have a higher acceptance of new business models like Robotaxis and show more visible commercial progress? Yan Yiyang Analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China region Firstly, technical capabilities are the foundation for Chinese intelligent driving solution providers to successfully expand overseas markets. From a technical capability perspective, Chinese intelligent driving solution providers represented by Pony.ai have formed a relatively mature intelligent driving technology solution and service system through years of research and development, testing, and verification, and possess the ability to quickly deploy operations in new regions. Secondly, from an enterprise strategic perspective, going overseas is an operational choice for Chinese intelligent driving solution providers to develop revenue growth points and seek commercial scale expansion. Furthermore, operating Robotaxis in different countries, with different regulations and traffic environments, gives Chinese intelligent driving solution providers the opportunity to participate in or even lead the formulation of some regional and even global autonomous driving technology standards, safety standards, and operational norms. At the same time, cooperation with global or regional transportation giants is a practical exploration of the 'technology empowerment + localized operation' business model by Chinese intelligent driving solution providers, which helps them understand user habits, payment systems, and regulatory requirements in different markets and accumulate experience for building replicable and scalable global business models. Currently, looking at the global market, except for the United States, regions such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe show a high market acceptance and commercial progress visibility for new business models like Robotaxis. The Middle East region, represented by the UAE, has made the development of smart cities and future transportation an important national strategy. In terms of commercial progress, Pony.ai has also reached an agreement with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to start road testing this year. In the Southeast Asian market, Singapore, as the world's first country to carry out public Robotaxis trial operations, has always maintained a globally leading development process in terms of relevant policies and regulatory systems; Pony.ai and Baidu's RoboRover are both expected to land in Singapore this year for commercial operations. In Europe, countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are also accelerating the development of the Robotaxis market. German automakers such as Volkswagen and Daimler have participated in the demonstration operation of Robotaxis projects in their respective countries; WeRide will carry out pure driverless commercial operations in France through strategic cooperation; the United Kingdom will launch a Robotaxis pilot operation in London in 2026.   Q: Coupled with Tesla's attempts, why does it seem that the Robotaxis market is advancing more actively this year? Previously, the main challenges for Robotaxis deployment were mass production costs and operational maintenance costs. Have domestic manufacturers achieved significant cost reductions in these two areas this year? Yan Yiyang Analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China region The main reasons for the accelerating advancement of the global and Chinese Robotaxis markets this year can be seen from three dimensions: technical maturity, commercial verification, and policy promotion: At the technical level, the maturity of Level 4 autonomous driving technology has further improved. The 'multi-sensor fusion + modular system' solution represented by Waymo has verified through large-scale testing that the safety and reliability of Robotaxis have gradually reached the commercial threshold; Tesla's 'end-to-end model-driven pure vision solution' has significant economies of scale, iterative efficiency, and expansion capabilities, with extremely high commercial potential. In terms of commercial verification, Chinese Robotaxis companies represented by Baidu Apollo, Pony.ai, and Baidu RoboRover have demonstrated the feasibility of Robotaxis commercialization after multiple verifications from technical testing to fully driverless commercial demonstrations. From a policy perspective, the US Department of Transportation issued relevant policies in April 2025 to simplify unmanned driving technology testing and reporting; first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen have further opened up Robotaxis commercial operations this year; countries and regions including the Middle East, Europe, and Japan are also actively following up on policy support for Robotaxis. Under the resonance of multiple factors, the Robotaxis market in 2025 showed a 'spring after rain' trend. The downward trend in the mass production and operational maintenance costs of Robotaxis is highly predictable. Take lidar as an example. In the past, lidar was a core bottleneck restricting the cost of Robotaxis, mainly due to limited production capacity in the early stages of technology development. With the technological upgrading and large-scale mass production of related industries, lidar prices have dropped significantly in recent years. According to public information, the cost of lidar in Pony.ai's seventh-generation autonomous driving system will be reduced by 68%. Other core components, such as automotive-grade chips, are also expected to see significant cost optimization with further optimization of single-chip computing power and the gradual mass production application of domestic automotive-grade chips. It is estimated that in the next two years, the market will see significant reductions in the mass production and operational maintenance costs of Robotaxis.   Q: Currently, for major intelligent driving solution providers, Robotruck is still the main source of contribution. Can the mileage and experience accumulated in the truck field promote the faster maturity and implementation of the Robotaxi model? What are the core technical challenges between Robotaxis and Robotruck? Yan Yiyang Analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China region From a technical perspective, there is strong commonality in the underlying technical architecture between Robotaxis and Robotruck, enabling a certain degree of technical reuse in basic perception and planning algorithms such as traffic rules, lane line recognition, and basic obstacle classification. The data accumulation during operation of Robotruck can also provide technical transfer value for the training of autonomous driving models (such as long-distance target recognition and lane keeping) by Robotaxis. Overall, the experience accumulation of Robotruck in the trunk logistics field is undoubtedly beneficial for promoting the development of Robotaxis. Through technical reuse and data feedback, Robotruck can provide a solid foundation for the development of Robotaxis. Compared with Robotruck, Robotaxis faces more complex operating scenarios. The main operating scenario of Robotruck is highways, where road rights are relatively clear, traffic participant types are relatively single, and the scenario complexity is relatively low compared to urban scenarios. In contrast, the urban scenarios where Robotaxis mainly operate have significantly increased complexity, facing challenges such as mixed traffic of people and vehicles, complex intersections, dynamic environments (such as temporary road construction, traffic control, roadside illegal parking), etc., which require extremely high real-time perception and planning capabilities of autonomous driving systems. In addition, the tolerance rate for misjudgment in urban environments is extremely low. Autonomous driving systems need to achieve low-threshold safe interaction and realize the full-link process of 'perception - decision - execution' in an extremely short time. These differences in factors pose more stringent technical requirements for Robotaxis autonomous driving systems. *This interview has been published in 21st Century Business Herald Reporter: Luo Yiqi, original title: Robotaxi Exploring Racing: Collective Efforts from the Supply Chain to the Ecosystem

Frost & Sullivan insights As more and more modern people choose to 'raise a furry child', the pet economy has risen rapidly, and the demand for pet insurance has also seen a surge. However, in the face of many problems in the pet insurance market, it has become an urgent task to promote the unification and standardization of industry standards. At present, what level is the development of pet insurance in China? What problems exist in the development process? Some consumers complain about difficulties in claims settlement, opaque compensation standards, and challenges in renewing policies for older pets. What are the main reasons for these problems? What is the current payout rate for pet insurance? What are the main reasons for the high payout rate? Is this also the reason why many insurance companies are cautious about entering the market?   Zhao Yuna, a research and consulting analyst at Frost & Sullivan (hereinafter referred to as 'Frost & Sullivan') Greater China, was interviewed by CBN to discuss the underlying logic behind the low penetration rate of pet insurance. *Click at the end of the article Read the original text View the full report   Q: At present, what level is the development of pet insurance in China? What problems exist in the development process? Zhao Yuna Research and Consulting Analyst, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan Although the current pet insurance market is growing rapidly, industry chaos frequently occurs, hindering its healthy development. Overall, we believe that pet insurance is currently in a relatively early stage of industry development, and there is still much to be done in the future.   On one hand, insurance companies set many restrictions on product design to control risks, such as a single payout cap, a 365-day waiting period for chronic diseases, and refusal of insurance for elderly pets. As a result, consumers actually receive far less protection than advertised.   On the other hand, due to the lack of unified standards for pet healthcare, insurance companies are skeptical about treatment costs and have strict review procedures, even refusing compensation on the grounds of 'congenital diseases' or 'non-veterinary drug labels'.   Meanwhile, some consumers engage in adverse selection behaviors (such as insuring with pre-existing conditions) or collude with pet hospitals to defraud insurance companies, further increasing the risk control pressure on insurers.   This vicious cycle has led to a decline in market trust: consumers complain about difficult claims processing, insurance companies reduce coverage due to high payment rates, and pet hospitals fall into disputes over costs.   In summary, in recent years, with changes in China's economic structure, population aging, and the development of atomized families, the number of pets kept has risen rapidly; China's pet market has also grown into one of the largest single markets in the world, leading to a corresponding rapid increase in insurance demand. However, at present, an effective trust relationship has not been established between the supply and demand sides of pet insurance, and the industry's development is not standardized. These factors have restricted the development of the industry.   Q: Some consumers complain about difficulties in claim settlement, opaque compensation standards, and challenges in renewing pet insurance policies for older pets. What are the main reasons for these issues? Zhao Yuna Research and Consulting Analyst, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan The current pet insurance market is in a vicious cycle and urgently needs industry regulation to break the deadlock. This predicament presents three contradictions:   Firstly, some irregular medical institutions engage in excessive diagnosis and treatment practices. There are also cases where users tamper with medical records to obtain insurance benefits, forcing insurance companies to set a single compensation limit to control risks;   Secondly, pet insurance faces serious adverse selection issues, with some individuals 'insuring while sick'. Coupled with the lack of pet health data and regular check-up mechanisms, this further drives up the payout rate.   These chaotic phenomena lead to a mutual loss for all parties: consumers pay high premiums but struggle to obtain high-quality services, medical institutions over-develop customer value for survival, and insurance companies weaken product competitiveness to prevent fraud. The key to breaking this deadlock lies in establishing a standardized pet diagnosis and treatment system, and by transparentizing medical practices and health data, reconstructing the market trust mechanism.   Q: Currently, what is the payout ratio of pet insurance? What are the main reasons for the high payout ratio? Is this also a reason why many insurance companies are cautious about entering this field? Zhao Yuna Research and Consulting Analyst, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan The current pet insurance industry is falling into a vicious cycle caused by dual non-standardization at the medical and insurance ends, becoming one of the types with the highest payout rates in the property insurance sector.   Data shows that additional compensation costs due to diagnostic and treatment chaos and user fraud account for more than 20%, causing some insurance companies to continue incurring losses. In the medical sector, the lack of unified standards during the diagnosis and treatment process has led to pet healthcare being like "opening a blind box," with large arbitrariness in treatment plans and dosages. Coupled with a chaotic medical pricing system, there are significant differences in the cost of diagnosing and treating the same condition, and there are even cases of insurance fraud where doctors collude with patients to prescribe high-dose medications to obtain compensation.   On the insurance side, traditional methods struggle to accurately identify the risk of similar pet breeds. Although some institutions have introduced nose print recognition technology, overall risk control remains weak. Additionally, most products adopt a uniform pricing mechanism for pets of different breeds, ages, and sizes, which not only violates the principles of actuarial science but also indirectly encourages high-risk groups to purchase insurance. Moreover, the information disclosure defect of insufficient disclosure of key terms in internet sales scenarios leads to a significant gap between consumers' expected protection and actual terms.   This medical chaos is driving up insurance costs, insurers tightening coverage, reducing consumer experience, and intensifying adverse selection, creating a chain reaction that is eroding the industry's development foundation. There is an urgent need to break this deadlock through measures such as establishing a standardized medical system, improving insurance actuarial models, and strengthening the disclosure of sales information.   Q: How can we avoid many problems emerging in the pet insurance market in terms of product design in the future? Zhao Yuna Research and Consulting Analyst, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan The healthy development of the pet insurance market in the future requires systematic optimization from two aspects: product design and service system. In terms of product design, efforts should be made to construct more transparent and precise protection plans: First, it is necessary to clearly define insurance clauses, especially by refining the criteria for defining vague concepts such as 'genetic diseases'. At the same time, the scope of coverage should be reasonably expanded to reduce unnecessary exclusions; secondly, big data analysis and AI technology can be considered to comprehensively assess risk factors such as pet breed, age, and past medical history, establishing a scientific differential pricing model to achieve precise risk pricing.   In terms of supporting service systems, it is necessary to establish a multi-party collaborative guarantee mechanism: Firstly, promote the formulation of unified pet medical industry standards to regulate diagnostic and treatment practices and charging rates, thereby reducing excessive medical care and fraud risks at the source; secondly, introduce third-party professional evaluation institutions to independently and fairly assess difficult claim cases, effectively resolving insurance disputes; furthermore, carry out insurance knowledge popularization education through online and offline channels to help consumers fully understand key terms such as waiting periods and compensation scopes, avoiding disputes due to cognitive biases.   For example, Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance has signed a cooperation agreement with the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (Suzhou Branch) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on nose print recognition technology. This collaboration aims to apply this technology to pet insurance, realizing commercial application of pet nose print recognition technology.   Q: The '2023 Pet Digital Insurance Industry Development Insights and Trends White Paper' shows that the domestic pet insurance market is still in its early stages of development, with an overall penetration rate of less than 1%. What is the outlook for the future development of pet insurance? What is the key to breaking through the next barrier? Zhao Yuna Research and Consulting Analyst, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan The pet insurance market in China is embracing unprecedented development opportunities. With the booming development of the pet economy and the continuous expansion of pet owners, this emerging market shows tremendous growth potential. However, compared with developed countries, the current penetration rate of pet insurance in China is still at a relatively low level, and market cultivation and consumer education urgently need to be strengthened.   In terms of channel transformation, internet platforms have rapidly risen to become the primary sales channel, leveraging their massive user base, precise big data analysis, and intelligent algorithm recommendations. This online trend has provided insurance companies with an efficient path to reach young pet owners, but it also poses higher demands on product design and customer service.   To achieve sustainable development of the industry, it is necessary to build a multi-party collaborative development system: Firstly, insurance companies should continuously optimize their product structure, improving user experience by simplifying claims processes and enhancing service response speed;   Secondly, it is necessary to deepen strategic cooperation with pet medical institutions and industry associations, jointly establishing standardized diagnostic and treatment standards and transparent pricing systems;   Finally, it is necessary to intensify market education efforts, combining online and offline methods to enhance consumers' awareness and acceptance of pet insurance value. Only through a multi-pronged approach including product innovation, channel optimization, and ecological co-construction can the development potential of the pet insurance market be fully unleashed, providing more comprehensive protection for pet owners and promoting the healthy and orderly development of the industry.   Q: Is industry standardization the key to future industry development? How should standardization be constructed? Zhao Yuna Research and Consulting Analyst, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan The innovation of products, technologies, and models is accelerating the improvement of service quality in the pet insurance industry. By establishing a sustainable cooperation model between insurance companies and pet hospitals and fully leveraging the connecting role of pet insurance, a virtuous cooperation chain can be formed: insurance cooperates with designated hospitals to attract patients; hospitals provide reasonable diagnostic and treatment services; insurance companies make timely payouts; pet owners obtain high-quality diagnostic and treatment experiences. Currently, the standardization work of pet insurance and pet healthcare in the market is gradually advancing. Recently, some insurance platforms have cooperated with pet hospitals and academia to jointly establish application norms for the pet insurance industry in terms of medical concepts and diagnostic standards, promoting the standardized development of the industry.   To establish a standardized pet healthcare industry, efforts need to be made in multiple aspects: first, standardizing the medical consultation process to ensure transparency; second, unifying procurement channel standards; third, standardizing disease classification and treatment plans. By integrating diagnostic and treatment data with insurance data, mining past data, and formulating more scientific standards, a basis can be provided for the pricing and design of insurance products. This will solve the problems of expensive and difficult pet healthcare, and build a higher-quality and suitable industry ecosystem.   Through industry collaboration, a system has been established from diagnosis and treatment norms to insurance industry standards. This includes the creation of a pet disease atlas, disease grading, definitions, treatment plans, medication dosages, and fee reference standards. These standards will provide strong support for the design of insurance products, actuarial models, and pricing systems. They will also precipitate platform claims review standards and hospital rating hierarchies, enabling users to experience more standardized, transparent, and certain services during the claims process. *This interview has been published in CBN Reporters: Huang Jingjing, Yuan Yuli. Original title: How is pet insurance moving towards standardized development under the backdrop of high growth prospects? | An exploration Standardized diagnosis and treatment are lacking, and fraud drives up compensation costs. The industry calls for differentiated pricing of pet insurance | A look   Contact number: 021-5407-5836 Contact email: PR@frostchina.com

Insights from Frost & Sullivan Several PCB industry chain companies such as Shanghai Electronics Group Co., Ltd., Pengding Holdings, and Shengyi Technology are expected to see increased performance in the first half of the year. The reasons mentioned in the attribution statements include structural demand driven by emerging scenarios such as high-speed computing servers and AI, an increase in the proportion of high-value-added products, and process improvements. What industry signals are being released behind this? Market reports indicate that the demand for high-end PCBs due to AI computing power is growing rapidly, and there is an obvious supply-demand gap this year. Leading manufacturers are accelerating production expansion. What is the current market supply and demand situation for related PCB products? It is reported that relevant departments have issued notices on implementing "window guidance" for computing power infrastructure and carried out preliminary surveys this year, aiming to avoid redundant construction. Will manufacturers in the PCB industry face challenges such as overcapacity after expanding production?   Xie Shuqin, Executive Director of Frost & Sullivan Greater China, was interviewed by Cailian News to discuss the new structural cycle of the PCB industry chain under the AI wave. *Click at the end of the article Read the original article View the complete report   Q: Several PCB industry chain companies such as Shanghai Electronics Group Co., Ltd., Pengding Holdings, and Shengyi Technology are expected to see increased performance in the first half of the year. The reasons mentioned in the attribution statements include structural demand driven by emerging scenarios such as high-speed computing servers and AI, an increase in the proportion of high-value-added products, and process improvements. What industry signals are being released behind this? Xie Shuqin Executive Director of Frost & Sullivan Greater China The PCB industry has entered a period of profound structural transformation. The core of this phenomenon lies in the reshaping of the industrial value chain by the computing power revolution - the explosive growth in the demand for AI large model training and inference directly drives the surge in demand for high-speed computing server PCBs. Such equipment requires high multi-layer boards with more than 18 layers to support the PCIe 5.0/6.0 high-speed transmission protocol, which is the essence of the "increase in the proportion of high-value-added products" by enterprises. With the acceleration of AI hardware iteration, the technical barriers for high-end PCBs continue to rise, and the industry concentration has significantly increased.   Coating board companies such as Shengyi Technology are accelerating the domestic substitution of high-frequency and high-speed substrates, breaking through the overseas monopoly of ultra-low-loss materials for AI servers and 6G high-frequency boards; Pengding Holdings, etc., are upgrading high-end HDI through micro-hole stacking technology to meet the miniaturization requirements of AIPC/AI mobile phones. Chinese policies are promoting the migration to high-end fields such as computing power, and local enterprises have made breakthroughs in the high-end field. The shortened technical iteration cycle further raises the competition threshold.   Q: Market reports indicate that the demand for high-end PCBs due to AI computing power is growing rapidly, and there is an obvious supply-demand gap this year. Leading manufacturers are accelerating production expansion. What is the current market supply and demand situation for related PCB products? Xie Shuqin Executive Director of Frost & Sullivan Greater China The hardware upgrade of AI servers drives a surge in demand for high-end PCBs. Taking NVIDIA's AI servers as an example, their core modules (such as UBB, OAM acceleration boards) require high multi-layer boards, and the value of a single PCBA is significantly higher than that of traditional servers. The global shipments of AI servers increased from 500,000 units in 2020 to 2 million units in 2024, with an annual compound growth rate of 45.2%, directly driving up the demand for high-layer boards and HDI boards. At the same time, the PCIe 6.0 protocol requires PCBs to support high-speed transmission rates and use ultra-low-loss materials, further raising the technical threshold and cost. On the supply side, there is a capacity bottleneck. First, technical barriers restrict production. High-end products require processes such as high-precision lamination and laser drilling, and only a few manufacturers globally can provide them. There is a short-term supply-demand gap for high-end products.   Currently, leading manufacturers are tilting their new production capacity towards products with more than 18 layers. In the medium and long term, with the release of production capacity in Southeast Asia and the commissioning of new high-frequency coating board production lines, the supply-demand contradiction may be alleviated. However, continuous technological iteration creates new demands. For example, Intel's next-generation Birch Stream platform requires more advanced PCB products, and the R & D reserve and capacity elasticity of manufacturers will become the key to competition.   Q: It is reported that relevant departments have issued notices on implementing "window guidance" for computing power infrastructure and carried out preliminary surveys this year, aiming to avoid redundant construction. Will manufacturers in the PCB industry face challenges such as overcapacity after expanding production? Xie Shuqin Executive Director of Frost & Sullivan Greater China Currently, AI computing power drives an explosive growth in demand for high-end PCBs, but there are significant structural contradictions between supply and demand, forming a dual pattern of "high-end shortage and low-end pressure". The hardware upgrade of AI servers and high-speed switches drives an annual growth rate of 16.7% in the demand for high multi-layer boards with more than 18 layers. The market scale increased from $1.3 billion in 2020 to $2.5 billion in 2024, but only a few manufacturers globally have stable mass production capabilities. Technical barriers make it difficult to fill the demand gap in the short term. Policy regulation is guiding production capacity to tilt towards high-quality fields, strictly controlling the expansion of inefficient production capacity, and strengthening technical thresholds. New projects are required to support the PCIe 6.0 protocol and advanced heat dissipation design, and the energy consumption per unit output value is included in the audit to promote green manufacturing. This precise regulation makes leading manufacturers' production expansion more rational.   The policy aims to shift the industry from "scale expansion" to "technology anchoring", building a new ecosystem with AI computing power as the engine and high-end manufacturing as the cornerstone. Only enterprises that accurately position themselves at the technological high ground can reap long-term dividends during the production expansion cycle.   Q: From the perspective of the PCB application market, which sectors currently have the greatest growth potential and why? Which PCB sub-categories and manufacturers are expected to benefit? Xie Shuqin Executive Director of Frost & Sullivan Greater China In the PCB application market, computing power scenarios (such as servers/data centers) and industrial scenarios (such as automotive electronics/communication equipment) have become the most growth potential areas due to technological explosion and demand expansion. The growth rate of computing power scenarios leads the way. Its PCB market scale is expected to increase from $12.5 billion in 2024 to $21 billion in 2029, mainly driven by the popularization of AI and big data upgrades. The training of large models drives up the demand for AI servers, and the growth of data center cabinets drives a surge in PCB usage.   At the manufacturer level, leading companies in computing power server PCBs such as King Kong Electronics, Kingtech, and Guanghe Technology are significantly benefiting from their technical advantages in high multi-layer boards; in the industrial scenario, Shanghai Electronics Group Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Nan Circuit are leading in the fields of automotive electronics high-frequency PCBs and communication base station boards, while coating board supplier Shengyi Technology captures the dividends from high-frequency demand from the material side. *This interview has been published in Cailian News The reporter is Lu Tingting, and the original title was: AI Hardware Upgrade Spurs High-End PCB Demand, Industry Says Supply Chain Already Shows a Gap   Contact phone: 021-5407-5836 Contact email: PR@frostchina.com

'Frost & Sullivan' Insights On June 26th, the postpartum care group —— SAINT BELLA was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming the first family quality care stock in Hong Kong. With star clients such as Qi Wei, Tang Yixin, and Gina staying at the center, and prices almost twice as expensive as ordinary maternity packages on the market, Saint Bella is hailed as a "Haute Couture" maternity center. Taking Shanghai as an example, the cheapest package is priced at 188,000 yuan. What services are included in this package, and why is this price more expensive compared to a maternity nanny? What are the reasons for consumers' choice? Overall, what is the acceptance level of maternity care among mothers in the past two years? Has consumption degradation and a decrease in childbearing affected it? What are the core competitive advantages? What expectations do mothers have been met with?   Li Junyi, consulting manager for Frost & Sullivan Greater China, was interviewed by Blue Whale News to discuss the changing needs of new-generation mothers . Blue Whale News Q: Taking Shanghai as an example, the cheapest package is priced at 188,000 yuan. What services are included in this package, and why is this price more expensive compared to a maternity nanny? What are the reasons for consumers' choice? What are the core competitive advantages? What expectations do mothers have been met with? Li Junyi Consulting Manager for Frost & Sullivan Greater China Maternity centers provide services mainly during the critical postpartum period to new mothers and newborns, offering postpartum care and support, including basic maternal and infant care, nutritional dietary adjustments, postpartum recovery, psychological counseling, and more. Although maternity centers and maternity nannies serve the same target group of new mothers and newborns, there are still differences in professionalism and service matrix provided. Compared to maternity nannies, maternity centers can equip clients with professional service personnel with diverse skills and a more comfortable and spacious living and recuperation environment, thus providing a more specialized, standardized, and comprehensive service matrix; in addition, compared to the limited service hours of a single maternity nanny per day, maternity centers have multiple professionals rotating shifts to ensure 24-hour uninterrupted health monitoring and service guarantees for mothers and infants. These are all core advantages of maternity centers that can better meet the health care needs of new mothers and newborns.   Q: Overall, what is the acceptance level of maternity care among mothers in the past two years? Has consumption degradation and a decrease in childbearing affected it? Li Junyi Consulting Manager for Frost & Sullivan Greater China In recent years, the penetration rate of maternity centers in China has steadily increased. Maternity centers are no longer exclusive to the wealthy or middle-class; many women from low- and middle-income families also choose maternity centers as their first choice for postpartum recuperation. Moreover, more and more young women have stated in surveys that although their income is not high, they consider using dowry to stay in a maternity center. And as women born in the 85s, 90s, and 00s become the main consumer group, they place more emphasis on professional care, scientific parenting, and a "pleasing oneself" experience, driving the transformation of maternity centers from "luxuries" to "necessities." *This interview has been published in Blue Whale News, with reporter Tu Jun, and the original title was: Maternity Center 'Haute Couture' Saint Bella Listed: Minimum Package 188,000 Yuan, 3 Years of Losses of 12 Billion

2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference   On the afternoon of July 28, the closing ceremony of the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global Artificial Intelligence Governance was successfully held. Chen Jie, member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and Vice Mayor, summarized the achievements of the conference. Zhang Ying, Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Government and Director of the Municipal Economic Informatization Commission, attended the event. Executives from Frost & Sullivan were invited to participate in this activity.   This year's conference brought together over 1,500 top experts from more than 70 countries and regions. The exhibition area exceeded 70,000 square meters for the first time, attracting over 800 enterprises to participate, showcasing more than 3,000 cutting-edge technologies, including over 100 "world premiere" and "China debut" products. The total number of exhibits and the number of premieres and debuts achieved a "double increase."     Dr. Wang Xin, Global Partner and Chairman of Frost & Sullivan Greater China Region   As a globally leading investment banking, corporate finance and growth consulting firm, Frost & Sullivan is committed to providing professional consulting services for industries with high growth potential, strategic importance, and leadership. Over the past 30 years, Frost & Sullivan has helped nearly 3,000 companies successfully list on global capital markets through its professional industry analysis, market insights, and investment and financing consulting services. Among them are many outstanding enterprises in the fields of artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics, and related areas.   According to LiveReport's big data statistics, as of July 24, 2025, there are 214 companies that have submitted listing applications to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange but have not yet gone public (including one company that has passed the listing hearing), among which 48 companies have submitted their prospectuses by industry classification for AI. From the perspective of industry consultants for AI companies planning to go public, Frost & Sullivan provides industry advisory services to the vast majority of AI companies, participating in 33 companies with an outstanding participation rate, accounting for 68.8% of the market share.   The World Artificial Intelligence Conference has been successfully held for its seventh edition in Shanghai. We are delighted to see that as a global hub for artificial intelligence, Shanghai is nurturing a cluster of world-leading AI enterprises with an open ecosystem and innovative vitality. Frost & Sullivan looks forward to walking alongside the pioneers on this hotbed - through in-depth industry insights, global resource connectivity, and digital strategy empowerment - to help enterprises achieve a leap from technological breakthroughs to business success.   Meanwhile, Frost & Sullivan itself will also actively embrace AI, integrating artificial intelligence technology with a more open attitude, upgrading its think tank research and consulting services capabilities, capturing innovation and technological opportunities in the global industrial transformation, and exploring the infinite possibilities of the intelligent computing economy with partners. The future has arrived. Frost & Sullivan is ready to join hands with AI pioneers to empower new growth with intelligence and define a new future with innovation!     Recommended Reading   Recent whitepapers related to the AI field 1. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released the 'White Paper on the AI Smart Glasses Industry 2025'. 2. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released the 'China Financial Large Model Market Tracking Report for the Whole Year 2024'. 3. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released the '2025 AI Cloud Storage Solutions Market Report'. 4. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released 'Best Application Practices for Advanced Storage in China 2025'. 5. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released 'Insights into the Content Marketing Industry in the New AI Era 2025'. 6. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released the '2025 China Large Model Annual Benchmarking Report'. 7. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released 'China Enterprise Outbound Cloud Services Market Report 2024'. 8. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released the '2024 China GenAI Technology Stack Market Report'. 9. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research Institute, released the '2024 China AI Agent Annual List'. 10. Frost & Sullivan, in collaboration with LeadLeo Research, released the '2024 China Industry Cloud Hybrid and Private Cloud Market Report'. 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'Frost & Sullivan' Insights The three major operators are accelerating the collaborative advancement of network services for 5G-A commercialization. China Mobile previously planned to achieve full commercial deployment by the end of 2026. Since the beginning of this year, in addition to supporting typical scenarios such as low-altitude operations, 5G-A has gradually begun to empower robots and AI intelligent agents. How do you view the empowerment of 5G-A in recent years in multiple popular fields such as low-altitude operations, humanoid robots, and AI intelligent agents? Is this due to the traditional telecommunications business development of operators and communication enterprises slowing down and an urgent need to find new business breakthroughs, or is the development in related fields indeed supported by network upgrades? What stage has the development of 5G-A currently entered? Are the conditions ripe for full commercial deployment of 5G-A, or are there still specific challenges?   Frost & Sullivan (Frost & Sullivan, hereinafter referred to as 'Frost & Sullivan') industry analyst Song Anqi was interviewed by Cailian News to discuss the key paths and industrial breakthrough points for the full commercialization of 5G-A . Cailian News     Q: How do you view the empowerment of 5G-A in recent years in multiple popular fields such as low-altitude operations, humanoid robots, and AI intelligent agents? Is this due to the traditional telecommunications business development of operators and communication enterprises slowing down and an urgent need to find new business breakthroughs, or is the development in related fields indeed supported by network upgrades? Song Anqi Frost & Sullivan industry analyst 5G-A does not create demand out of thin air but truly meets and supports the objective needs of emerging fields such as low-altitude drones, autonomous robots, and AI intelligent agents for higher-performance networks. It can be said that the development of these emerging fields indeed forces the evolution of communication network capabilities. In typical scenarios such as drone dispatching in low-altitude airspace, remote control of humanoid robots, and multi-modal task execution by AI intelligent agents, networks often need to have high upstream capacity, large bandwidth, low latency, and high stability simultaneously, which has already become a bottleneck for existing 5G networks. The technical characteristics of 5G-A can just meet the communication and computing power coordination needs of these complex tasks, enabling intelligent agents to think quickly in the cloud and act flexibly at terminals. More importantly, as scenarios such as AI large models, intelligent manufacturing, and urban low-altitude transportation continue to deepen and implement, networks are no longer ancillary facilities but gradually become the core infrastructure of intelligent systems, which must have predictable and guaranteed service capabilities. 5G-A is playing a key role in industrial upgrading by gradually shifting its role from being an 'available service' to a 'necessary service' with its enhanced connectivity and native intelligent network capabilities. At the same time, it is undeniable that operators are vigorously promoting the empowerment of 5G-A in vertical industries in order to expand new blue ocean services in the communication industry and transform their own growth models. As traditional C-end business growth slows down, operators urgently need to find new growth drivers, and 5G-A provides them with a two-way breakthrough point for high-experience consumption and high-value government-enterprise services. On the one hand, through 5G-A-supported differentiated experience services (such as cloud gaming, XR live streaming, etc.), operators can try to shift from 'traffic-based billing' to 'experience-based billing'; on the other hand, in B-end scenarios such as industry, transportation, and healthcare, operators are gradually integrating technologies such as 5G-A with AI, edge computing, and cloud-network integration into the core systems of government-enterprise digital transformation, providing customized and operational network + computing power + application solutions. In this sense, 5G-A is not only a technological upgrade of communication networks but also a deep shift in the strategic focus of operators, which is expected to help operators transform from 'pipe providers' to 'digital enablers' and reshape their value positioning in the digital economy era.   Q: What stage has the development of 5G-A currently entered? Are the conditions ripe for full commercial deployment of 5G-A, or are there still specific challenges? Song Anqi Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Currently, China's 5G-A has kicked off commercialization. The basic conditions from standards, networks to terminals have gradually matured and are in a critical expansion period transitioning from scale pilots to full commercialization. With the official freezing of the 3GPP R18 standard, the technical system of 5G-A has entered a finalization stage, and the three major operators are also rapidly deploying networks nationwide, with continuous coverage initially formed in several key cities. At the same time, terminal manufacturers have launched more than 160 devices supporting 5G-A, and the synergistic effect between networks and terminals has initially emerged. At the application end, industry exploration continues to deepen, with typical scenarios such as cloud gaming, naked-eye 3D live streaming, AI intelligent agents, and low-altitude economy becoming the first batch of customers for 5G-A to verify network performance and service capabilities in the next stage of large-scale implementation. For example, ZTE released the 'AgentGuard' network solution for AI intelligent agents at MWC Shanghai, supporting multi-modal task execution through upstream bandwidth enhancement and deterministic guarantee; Huawei demonstrated a digital human team and workflow intelligent agent built based on the integration of 5G-A and AI, used to improve operation efficiency and network self-optimization capabilities. The humanoid robot 'Kua Fu' also made an appearance at the conference, realizing remote control and intelligent decision-making relying on 5G-A to provide feasibility verification for operations in complex environments. It can be said that 5G-A is in a critical leap period from 'available' to 'usable', and 2025 will become a turning point year for the integration and advancement of network construction and application ecosystems, laying a solid foundation for full commercialization nationwide in 2026. Although the current commercial technology and industrial foundation of 5G-A are quite mature, the general direction and pace of full popularization are basically clear. However, there are still some challenges that need to be overcome to truly achieve the full commercialization of 5G-A, not only in the deployment and technology integration of the network itself but also depending on the application ecosystem and demand cultivation. On the one hand, 5G-A has introduced many new capabilities such as sensory integration, air-ground-space integration, and endogenous intelligence, but stable operation in complex and variable actual scenarios still requires optimization and verification over time; on the other hand, whether it is high-end experience services for the C-end or industry solutions for the B-end, most are still in the demonstration or customized stage, and there is still a distance from large-scale replication. In addition, whether users are willing to pay a premium for higher-performance networks and how operators build sustainable business models are also key determinants of whether 5G-A can truly run smoothly. Therefore, in the next one or two years, 5G-A will not only 'be built well' but also 'be usable'. Only with the dual-wheel drive of technological evolution and ecological co-construction can we truly open up the next growth cycle of communication industry development. * This interview has been published in Cailian News, with reporter Fu Jing, and the original title was: Upstream speed increases by more than 20%! The empowerment of AI intelligent agents and embodied intelligence is becoming a trend. How is the progress of expanding the 'new blue ocean' in the communication industry?

Frost & Sullivan insights This summer, heatwaves swept across many regions, and the "summer relief" product, air conditioners, have been selling briskly. Driven by high temperatures, the previously less popular Northeast region has also seen a surge in demand. It is understood that the "national subsidy" combined with the recent high temperatures across the country has led to a significant increase in air conditioner sales by several companies. In addition, rising temperatures in Europe have also boosted local air conditioner sales. When is it expected that the peak season will continue? Will the hot sales of products under high temperatures lead to an increase in air conditioner sales for the whole year? What new characteristics have emerged in air conditioner sales this summer? What is the overall price performance like? How is the export potential of energy-saving air conditioners viewed? Lou Lei, Executive Director of Frost & Sullivan's China region, was interviewed by Cailian News to discuss the subsequent growth logic of the air-conditioning industry and the new global competitive landscape. Time Weekly   Q: It is understood that the 'national subsidy' coupled with recent high temperatures across the country has led to a significant increase in air conditioner sales for many enterprises. In addition, the rising temperatures in Europe have also driven local air conditioner sales. When is it expected that the peak season will continue? Will the hot sales of products during the high-temperature weather lead to an increase in the annual air conditioner sales volume? Lou Lei Executive Director, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan The growth in air conditioner sales this year is mainly due to the superposition of multiple factors: On one hand, the national subsidy has been very substantial, with the central finance allocating 300 billion yuan in subsidies in batches. This has not only boosted air conditioner sales but also led to an ideal recovery in overall consumer data across the country during the first half of the year. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to May, total retail sales of consumer goods reached 2031.71 billion yuan, a growth of 5.0%. Among them, retail sales of consumer goods other than automobiles amounted to 1843.24 billion yuan, a growth of 5.6%. It can be said that the overall growth of consumption has been relatively good. On the other hand, this year's weather has been extremely hot, not only ending earlier than usual with the arrival of the plum rain season, but also seeing widespread high temperatures across the country. Moreover, the onset of high temperatures has come somewhat earlier than in previous years. Coupled with the major e-commerce platforms starting their 618 activities in May this year, which coincided with the national subsidy and hot weather factors. Under the influence of multiple factors, there was a prosperous supply and demand situation in the air-conditioning market from May to June. However, on the other hand, there is a need to be vigilant about the tapering of subsidies and the slowdown in growth rates after the end of the 618 event. In fact, since the second half of June, there has been a certain fatigue in industry sales growth, with some provinces such as Zhejiang showing signs of exhaustion of state subsidy funds. Overall, there have been no major changes in the macroeconomy. The booming sales of air conditioners starting in May have, to some extent, pushed up the demand for air conditioners during the summer season in previous years to May and June. However, if there are no new actions such as national subsidies in the future, the industry is unlikely to maintain such a high growth rate for a long time and will gradually return to a steady growth. The growth in overseas orders, especially those from Europe, is indeed a highlight for the industry. For a long time, the penetration rate of household air conditioners in regions such as Europe has been lower than that in China. However, this year there have also been widespread high temperatures in Europe, with some countries experiencing temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Coupled with the fact that domestic air conditioner manufacturers have reached international advanced levels in technology and energy consumption after a long period of development, and with the added advantage of cost-effectiveness, there has been a significant increase in overseas orders this year.   Q: What new characteristics have emerged in air-conditioner sales this summer? How has the overall price performance been? Lou Lei Executive Director, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan The more obvious feature is that both volume and value have reached new highs, but prices have seen a certain degree of decline. This trend has generally continued the overall trend of the industry since 2024. The use of price to trade for volume also reflects the intensified competition in the industry since 2024, and it also indirectly reflects everyone's certain concerns about the uncertain future, hoping to maintain their market share in 2025. Specifically, looking at online and offline sales, the price cuts on the online platform are higher than those offline. Relatively speaking, the prices of online products are more transparent at present, and price competition is also more intense. In recent years, manufacturers have made certain distinctions between online and offline product lines by differentiating models, etc., to avoid price influence between them.   Q: What is the export potential of energy-saving air conditioners? Lou Lei Executive Director, Greater China, Frost & Sullivan Competing in energy efficiency has been one of the key areas of competition among domestic air-conditioning manufacturers in recent years. As the market with the most intense global competition for air conditioners, leading manufacturers have also taken the lead in technology over the years. New features, AI technology, and energy-saving technology are all key areas of competition for domestic manufacturers. Especially with the current large-scale development of AI technology in China, it is expected to help enterprises achieve overtaking on a curve. Looking at domestic sales products, the proportion of high-efficiency models has been continuously increasing in recent years. Data shows that from the list of best-selling models, the proportion of high-efficiency models with an APF greater than 5.6 has risen to over 20%. Domestic products have gradually moved away from the previous stage of simply competing on price. With the increasing proportion of high-efficiency products in China and their popularization, from the perspective of energy-saving efficiency alone, leading brands are continuously narrowing the gap with the world's top levels. They also have the potential to further expand their export scale by relying on high efficiency + high cost-effectiveness, competing with traditional Japanese and European manufacturers in overseas markets. *This interview has been published in Cailian Finance & Economics News Agency The reporter is Lu Tingting, and the original title is: Heatwave 'forces' air-conditioning consumption to boom: factories are fully producing with tight inventory, so why do dealers still not dare to 'stock up' more? The investment and financing business of Frost & Sullivan Greater China has achieved full industry coverage of the Chinese national economy, including a high level of attention to all economic hotspots such as new economies and new infrastructure. It covers digital infrastructure, consumer electronics, dual-carbon new energy, healthcare and life sciences, catering and new retail, semiconductors and integrated circuits, smart homes, automotive and mobility, health services, food and beverages, information and communication technology, fintech, real estate and property, mining and smelting, beauty and fashion, big data and artificial intelligence, logistics and supply chain, construction technology and decoration, special new materials, culture and entertainment, enterprise-level services, cross-border e-commerce trade, infrastructure construction, environmental protection and energy-saving technology, education and training, etc. Since the Frost & Sullivan team began providing investment and financing advisory services to corporate leaders and their management teams, it has helped nearly 3,000 companies successfully list on the Hong Kong and overseas stock exchanges, making it a leading enterprise in the field of investment and financing strategy consulting in China. Over the past decade, Frost & Sullivan has consistently ranked first in the market share for professional industry consultants advising Chinese companies on listing on the Hong Kong and overseas stock exchanges; moreover, in recent years, Frost & Sullivan reports have been widely cited in the prospectuses of leading A-share and STAR Market listed companies, primary and secondary market research reports, and other capital market disclosure documents. For over 64 years, Frost & Sullivan has helped a large number of clients (including Fortune Global 1,000 companies, top domestic and international financial institutions, and other leading enterprises) achieve strategic goals through its nearly 50 offices around the world. Leveraging a powerful database and expert library, as well as rich professional knowledge and consulting tools, it has completed tasks including but not limited to due diligence, valuation analysis, and third-party evaluations. 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Frost & Sullivan insight The low-altitude logistics industry chain is presenting a new pattern where logistics enterprises, e-commerce platforms, and drone manufacturers are 'competing among themselves'. The 'closed loop' in the traditional logistics structure is being broken. In the past, express logistics enterprises controlled the entire resource chain from warehousing to trunk lines and last-mile delivery. However, in the low-altitude logistics scenario, capabilities such as aircraft manufacturing, airspace scheduling, platform operation, and safety management have become more specialized and systematic. A large number of technology companies have entered key links by integrating algorithms, platforms, and equipment, shifting from 'supporting roles' to 'leading roles'. What are the differences in the technical paths and strategic priorities among the three parties? Previously, the core competitiveness of the logistics industry was ground network density, etc. In the low-altitude logistics field, what aspects are the focus of key technology competition? Is it easier for industry integrators that integrate 'flight technology, platform capabilities, and scenario operation' into a system to succeed in breaking through?   Mr. Liu Xufeng, Senior Consulting Advisor at Frost & Sullivan (hereinafter referred to as 'Frost & Sullivan') for Greater China, was interviewed by 'Securities Daily' to discuss the next evolution path of the low-altitude logistics industry . 'Securities Daily'   Q: What are the differences in the technical paths and strategic priorities among the three parties? Mr. Liu Xufeng Senior Consulting Advisor at Frost & Sullivan for Greater China Although low-altitude logistics is still in its exploration phase, the technical paths and strategic priorities of the three types of participants have actually begun to diverge. The core logic of logistics enterprises is to introduce low-altitude transport capacity into the existing transportation system to supplement and optimize the network. They are more concerned with how to incorporate drones into the overall structure of trunk lines, feeder lines, and last-mile delivery to improve regional coverage efficiency and reduce marginal distribution costs. Technically, they will focus on investing in the construction of scheduling systems and airspace-ground coordination capabilities. The logic of e-commerce platforms is actually quite different. For them, low-altitude logistics is a 'new type of transport capacity module' within the entire fulfillment capability, with the core goal still being to improve user experience and order response efficiency. They emphasize more on platform-side scheduling algorithms, transport capacity integration, and flexible capabilities for multi-channel fulfillment. Logistics enterprises are building transport capacity systems, while e-commerce platforms are adjusting transport resources. Drone manufacturers start from flight technology and pay more attention to underlying technologies such as flight control safety, communication links, and energy consumption management. Many manufacturers are now moving towards system integration, no longer just selling equipment but starting to provide platform-level scheduling capabilities and operational support. Overall, logistics enterprises are integrating networks, e-commerce platforms are developing system intelligence, and drone manufacturers are building flight bases. Each party has its own focus and is looking for entry points around their strengths. There will definitely be more possibilities for cross-cooperation in the future.   Q: Previously, the core competitiveness of the logistics industry was ground network density, etc. In the low-altitude logistics field, what aspects are the focus of key technology competition? Is it easier for industry integrators that integrate 'flight technology, platform capabilities, and scenario operation' into a system to succeed in breaking through? Mr. Liu Xufeng Senior Consulting Advisor at Frost & Sullivan for Greater China In the new field of low-altitude logistics, the current competitive logic indeed differs from the mature ground system. Traditional ground logistics emphasizes more on network density, coverage capacity of the warehousing and distribution system, and end-touch efficiency. In the current stage of low-altitude logistics, the importance of technical system capabilities is more prominent than ground network coverage. That is to say, what is being competed on now is not who has more network points, but who can fly more safely, schedule more efficiently, and control costs more effectively. At present, flight safety remains the most fundamental and non-negotiable threshold of the entire industry. In addition to hardware factors such as the flight control performance, obstacle avoidance ability, and redundant design of drones themselves, platform-level scheduling capabilities, route design, and emergency handling are also important components in measuring safety levels. For example, how to maintain the orderliness of multiple aircraft operations in complex urban airspace? Can a system-level response be achieved in case of emergencies? These are all key factors determining whether you can obtain airspace resources, advance BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) approval, and achieve compliant operations. At the same time, cost issues are also an unavoidable reality challenge. As a highly price-sensitive industry, whether a new technology is ultimately scalable depends on whether its unit transportation cost is competitive. Even if the technology is advanced and efficient, if the cost remains high, it is difficult to form a practical substitution relationship with existing solutions such as riders and driverless cars. Therefore, low-altitude logistics not only needs to run fast but also be affordable. So returning to the previous question, on the premise of ensuring safety, those enterprises that can find suitable scenarios faster, achieve large-scale operations, and take the lead in breaking through the profit model locally are indeed more likely to succeed in the current stage. *This interview has been published in 'Securities Daily', with reporter Wang Jingru. The original title was: The low-altitude logistics industry chain is accelerating its formation

Insights from Frost & Sullivan Over the past few days, several pharmaceutical companies have successively disclosed their BD (business cooperation in the biopharmaceutical field, usually referring to pipeline licensing) expectations, drawing significant attention from the market. What trends are currently seen in BD transactions among innovative pharmaceutical companies in terms of transaction models, transaction data, and transaction targets? What are the reasons behind these trend changes? How should innovative pharmaceutical companies balance 'selling' and 'not selling'? When companies face contradictions between financial pressure and market prospects, when should they stick to independent development to control pricing power, and when should they achieve cash flow recovery through BD transactions? Is Yu Decao's decision-making logic of 'refusing short-term cashing out and betting on the ultimate outcome of the Chinese market' still valuable for reference in the current industry environment?   Zhao Yifei, a pharmaceutical industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China Life Sciences Business Unit, was interviewed by 21st Century Business Herald to discuss the value boundaries of innovative drug BD . *Click at the end of the article Read the original article for the complete report   Q: What trends are currently seen in BD transactions among innovative pharmaceutical companies in terms of transaction models, transaction data, and transaction targets? What are the reasons behind these trend changes? Zhao Yifei Pharmaceutical industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China Life Sciences Business Unit From transaction data, the number of BD transactions remained strong in the first half of 2025. According to incomplete statistics, there were already 307 transactions, a slight increase compared to the same period in 2024; more notably, the transaction amount increased significantly, with multiple projects reaching high cooperation agreements. For example, Sanyo Pharmaceutical licensed its global rights (excluding the Chinese mainland) for its PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody SSGJ-707 to Pfizer for a total transaction amount of $6.05 billion, including a $1.25 billion upfront payment. Such transactions indicate that market funds are concentrating on assets with real differentiation and global potential.   In terms of transaction models, License-out remains the absolute mainstream, accounting for more than 50% of transactions in 2024. However, the NewCo model is accelerating its rise—7 transactions were recorded in 2024 and 4 in the first half of 2025, mainly targeting early pipelines and binding long-term returns through joint venture structures; mergers and acquisitions continue to grow steadily, focusing on mature pipelines and providing efficient exit channels for resource-limited enterprises.   In terms of transaction targets, two trends are particularly evident. One is that platform-based technologies are becoming the core driving force of high-value transactions. For example, multiple rounds of high-value cooperation between Corbus Therapeutics and MSD around the ADC platform are based on their complete platform capabilities covering antibody screening, linker optimization, and toxin payload development. Buyers are willing to pay a premium for their scalability and high conversion rates. The second is a significant diversification of asset types. Transaction targets are no longer concentrated on traditional hotspots such as PD-1 and VEGF but are gradually expanding to new targets, non-tumor indications, and diverse drug types, reflecting that Chinese pharmaceutical companies are gaining international recognition through Best/First-in-class innovation after 'me-too' drugs.   The driving factors behind these trends include both internal initiatives for change within the companies and external push from the market environment.   On one hand, the innovation capabilities of Chinese innovative pharmaceutical companies continue to improve, with multiple First-in-class pipelines emerging globally; at the same time, domestic market profit margins are being compressed by centralized procurement and medical insurance cost control, and primary market financing is also tightening, making companies more dependent on BD transactions to raise funds and hedge uncertainties. In addition, national policies such as the '14th Five-Year Plan' for the pharmaceutical industry development plan are also strategically promoting companies to accelerate their internationalization process.   On the other hand, developed countries such as Europe and America not only have a large patient base and payment capabilities but are also facing the expiration of multiple original research drug patents, increasing their efforts to introduce innovative assets. At the same time, under the background of policies such as the 'Belt and Road', emerging market medical demand is growing rapidly, providing more opportunities for Chinese innovative pharmaceutical companies to go global.   Q: On one hand, some views hold that BD has broken the traditional model of 'cash flow only after product approval and launch', bringing sufficient cash flow to innovative pharmaceutical companies. In recent years, many innovative pharmaceutical companies have turned from losses to profits due to the inflow of BD funds; on the other hand, some innovative pharmaceutical companies such as Pemrix are considered to be adopting unsustainable measures of 'selling seedlings at low prices', which are not conducive to the development of domestic innovative assets in the long run. How should we view the conflict between these two views? Does the phenomenon of 'selling seedlings at low prices' reflect the bargaining power dilemma of Chinese pharmaceutical companies in the global value chain? How should innovative pharmaceutical companies strive for more favorable conditions in BD transactions? Zhao Yifei Pharmaceutical industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China Life Sciences Business Unit   The essence of BD is the dynamic redistribution of R&D risks by innovative pharmaceutical companies. Especially when primary market financing in China continues to tighten, BD transactions—especially License-out, which accounts for the largest proportion—have become the lifeline of Biotech companies. Since 2022, the transaction scale has exceeded the total primary market financing for three consecutive years, upgrading from an option to a survival necessity. The example of Kangfang Biotech achieving its first profit through bispecific antibody licensing is an illustration. However, excessive reliance on BD income can amplify the performance volatility risk of pipeline breaks. Essentially, this is a game between short-term blood transfusion and long-term hematopoiesis capabilities.   The so-called 'selling seedlings at low prices' phenomenon profoundly reflects the phased weakness of Chinese innovative pharmaceutical companies in the global value chain: there are gaps between clinical data quality and international standards, target homogenization weakens asset scarcity, the commercial prospects of niche indications are unclear, and insufficient overseas promotion experience forms multiple constraints. At the same time, companies are forced to exchange core assets for survival rights under capital pressure, falling into a vicious cycle of 'R&D - low-price licensing - re-R&D' in the long run.   Enhancing bargaining power itself is about building uniqueness and differentiation. The first point is to build technical uniqueness by innovating targets, breakthrough designs, and platform capabilities to establish a data moat. The second is to strengthen clinical persuasiveness by adopting global trial designs that meet FDA/EMA standards and introducing third parties when necessary to enhance data credibility. Finally, be proficient in transaction strategies, using competitive negotiations and flexibly constructing transaction structures, simultaneously contacting multiple buyers to trigger bidding mechanisms, and maintaining asset control while maximizing benefits through flexible structures such as phased licensing and regional splitting.   Q: Against the backdrop of pharmaceutical companies going global becoming a trend, on one hand, companies such as BeiGene are exploring international markets through different models such as independent going global and License-out; on the other hand, companies like SinoCure have recovered their overseas rights for Cimzia but have also suffered losses in performance. How should innovative pharmaceutical companies balance 'selling' and 'not selling'? When companies face contradictions between financial pressure and market prospects, when should they stick to independent development to control pricing power, and when should they achieve cash flow recovery through BD transactions? Is Yu Decao's decision-making logic of 'refusing short-term cashing out and betting on the ultimate outcome of the Chinese market' still valuable for reference in the current industry environment? Zhao Yifei Pharmaceutical industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan's Greater China Life Sciences Business Unit   The essence of 'selling' and 'not selling' is the company's dynamic assessment and balancing of clinical development capabilities, cash flow reserves, and in-depth evaluation. BeiGene's successful independent going global with zanubrutinib stems from its investment of over $1 billion to build a global clinical team and commercial network; another strategy emphasizes the release of phased value, such as some companies choosing to recover product rights in specific markets or stages, focusing more on resource allocation and core market strategies, often based on comprehensive consideration of market rhythm and strategic priorities.   Therefore, the core of decision-making lies in: when a product has global competitiveness and the company has overseas development resources, sticking to independence is the long-term optimal solution; otherwise, BD transactions are a rational choice to avoid risks.   Specifically, companies need to dynamically choose strategies based on three elements: cash flow reserves, pipeline maturity, and technical barriers: if funds are sufficient and the pipeline is mature (clinical Phase III and beyond), it is recommended to adopt a dual-track approach of 'independent going global + cooperative development' to build global capabilities; for companies with tight cash flow but leading technology, they can use License-out to raise funds and retain core regional rights to maintain long-term revenue capacity for R&D and expansion; for early pipelines (clinical Phase II and before) with technical uniqueness, they can attract overseas capital through the NewCo model to lock in long-term returns; for companies with mature pipelines but lacking overseas resources, they can seek mergers and acquisitions to realize the monetization of technical value. The key is to accurately match models according to one's own endowment, rather than chasing a single paradigm. *This interview has been published in 21st Century Business Herald, with reporter Han Liming, and the original title was: International competition heats up! BD dynamics among pharmaceutical companies frequent, market value fluctuations intensify   Contact phone: 021-5407-5836 Contact email: PR@frostchina.com