Low-Altitude Economy Development Must Proceed Steadily and Sustainably

“Low-altitude economy” has appeared in the “Government Work Report” for three consecutive years. This year, the report once again emphasizes building emerging pillar industries such as the low-altitude economy, highlighting its importance and significance in China’s industrial landscape. Since the beginning of the year, policies across various regions have been actively introduced. Hainan proposed to focus on “Artificial Intelligence+” low-altitude economy, improving the intelligence level of low-altitude flight management and infrastructure; Liaoning has allocated substantial funds to support the development of low-altitude economy projects… Practical measures are driving the rapid takeoff of the low-altitude economy.

Developing the low-altitude economy is of great significance for economic and social development. The low-altitude airspace is full of imagination and potential; utilizing it effectively can bring profound changes to certain industries: in Xinjiang farmland, drones spray pesticides quickly and efficiently; in Sichuan mountainous areas, drones transport mountain goods smoothly and conveniently; in Shanxi mines, drones perform inspection operations intelligently and thoroughly. As technology matures and scenarios expand, the low-altitude economy will also help improve quality and efficiency across more industries.

The low-altitude economy is also an important driver of high-quality development. Its industrial chain is long and wide-ranging, from upstream component manufacturing to midstream low-altitude products and services, and downstream application scenarios. It can stimulate development across thousands of industries, create numerous jobs, and is expected to become a new growth engine. Additionally, as a typical technology-intensive industry, breakthroughs in low-altitude technology can generate strong spillover effects, continuously boosting China’s technological strength.

Faced with promising emerging industries, regions are enthusiastically seizing opportunities and demonstrating a spirit of relentless effort. At the same time, careful planning and consideration of actual conditions are necessary; only with well-thought-out strategies can efforts be more effective.

Currently, some preliminary issues need attention. For example, some places have formulated phased development plans at the early stages of industry emergence, but after several years, the results still fall short of expectations. The reason lies in a lack of deep understanding and grasp of local realities and industry development laws, leading to development goals that are disconnected from actual conditions. Blindly expanding without proper planning often results in unsatisfactory outcomes; falling into the trap of seeking quick success and instant benefits can lead to low-level repetition. When developing the low-altitude economy, it is essential to investigate local development realities, industry stages, and laws. Moreover, large-scale application of the low-altitude economy still faces bottlenecks such as key technological breakthroughs, infrastructure construction, industry standards formulation, and business model exploration. These constraints mean that industry development will not happen overnight, and short-term breakthroughs are unlikely.

To make a mark in the low-altitude economy, the first step is to adopt the right mindset. The low-altitude economy is still in its infancy and requires patience. More pragmatic development goals should be set, focusing on addressing industry bottlenecks and pain points, with precise and detailed policies to clear obstacles and pave the way for industry growth. Second, it is important to follow a differentiated development path based on actual conditions. Different regions have varying resource endowments and industrial bases; there is no one-size-fits-all development model. A thorough understanding of local realities and industry laws is necessary to find a suitable path. The low-altitude economy industry chain is sufficiently long, and its reach is broad—from R&D and design, to product manufacturing, and finally to scenario applications. Although development levels vary across regions, all can find their opportunities within this vast blue ocean.

The low-altitude economy is like a sprout emerging in spring, showing vigorous growth. With deep understanding, accurate judgment, scientific methods, and enough patience, it will surely grow into a pillar of economic development. (Source: Economic Daily; Author: Wang Minghao)