The 2026 AI Product & Application Expo (AI Expo) kicked off at Suzhou International Expo Centre in SIP on July 30, and will last till Aug 1.

Focusing on new industrialization, large AI models and AI computing power supply chains, alongside OPC (one-person company) entrepreneurship and the token economy, the event is expected to facilitate two-way integration of Suzhou’s industrial scenarios with Shanghai’s best innovation resources. Meanwhile, it serves as an international, professional, diversified exchange platform that integrates competitions, exhibitions, conferences, new media communications, and new consumer experiences.

At the opening ceremony, the government of Suzhou and Microsoft (China) signed a strategic cooperation agreement, committing to deepen collaboration in AI-empowered manufacturing, replication and promotion of technological innovation models, OPC innovation ecosystem development, and support for enterprises expanding overseas.

Ruan Qing, head of the Shanghai Institute for Global City, and Yang Qiang, a fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE) and Royal Society of Canada (RSC) and director of PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (DoPAAI), delivered keynote speeches.

The “Annual Report on Development of New-generation AI Technology (2025-2026)” and the “AI Development Index of Chinese Cities (2025-2026)” were released.

About 400 companies including Huawei and 01.AI are showcasing their latest AI products and solutions. The event has also attracted people from a number of higher education institutions and industrial associations, as well as OPC founders.