The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention opened in Hefei, Anhui, on September 20, showcasing a pipeline of 946 cooperative projects with total investment exceeding 400 billion yuan. The event runs until September 23.

Held under the theme "Intelligent Manufacturing for a Better Future," the convention serves as a platform for global industrial cooperation. It was jointly organized by the People’s Government of Anhui Province, the National Manufacturing Power Construction Strategy Advisory Committee, the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Global Alliance of SMEs.

Global Participation and Structure

The United Kingdom served as the guest-of-honor country, while Sichuan Province was the guest-of-honor province. The convention attracted more than 1,000 high-profile guests from around the world. Delegations from over 40 renowned companies representing countries including the United States, France, and Russia participated in the exhibition.

Key international exchange events included:

• SME Overseas Expansion and International Industrial Chain Cooperation Matchmaking Forum
• China-EU Manufacturing International Cooperation Matchmaking Forum
• China-France Industrial Future Matchmaking Forum

Exhibition Scope and Technology Focus

The main exhibition at the Hefei Binhu International Convention and Exhibition Center covered 70,000 square meters. More than 900 enterprises showcased over 10,000 premium exhibits across ten distinctive zones, including intelligent connected new energy vehicles, robotics, and embodied intelligence.

Notable technological unveilings included a 180-bit superconducting quantum processor, achievements related to the Burning plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak, and the "MiMedal" platform for AI-driven material creation. An additional interactive area at Hefei Luogang Park featured live demonstrations of unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous driving systems.

Project Collaboration and Investment

Project matchmaking formed the core of the convention agenda. During the preparatory phase, organizers identified 946 projects totaling over 400 billion yuan. Targeted events such as "Central SOEs’ Tour in Anhui" and "Listed Companies’ Tour in Anhui" aimed to align supply and demand across industrial chains.

What the Numbers Show

The scale of the investment pipeline relative to the participant base indicates a high conversion intent per attendee. With 946 projects identified against a backdrop of 1,000+ guests and 40+ corporate delegations, the average potential deal size exceeds 423 million yuan per project. This concentration suggests that the convention is functioning less as a general awareness forum and more as a targeted B2B procurement and capital allocation engine for large-scale industrial infrastructure.