In recent years, the rapid development of China's digital economy, digital infrastructure global leader, digital technology and industrial system is improving, to better play the role of data elements has laid a solid foundation, but there are also scenarios to release not enough, data supply is insufficient, circulation mechanism is incomplete and other issues. Recently, the National Data Bureau issued the "Data Elements ×" Three-Year Action Plan (2024-2026) (Draft)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan").

The Action Plan proposes that by the end of 2026, the breadth and depth of data element application scenarios will be significantly expanded, the average annual growth rate of the data industry will exceed 20%, the scale of data transactions will increase by a factor of one, the scale of over-the-counter transactions will be significantly increased, and the new industry that promotes the creation of value for the data elements will become a new driving force for economic growth.

Focusing on the above objectives, the Action Plan puts forward 12 key actions such as Data Factor x Intelligent Manufacturing, Data Factor x Intelligent Agriculture, Data Factor x Commerce and Trade Circulation, and Data Factor x Science and Technology Innovation.

      For example, in terms of data elements and scientific and technological innovation, the Action Plan makes it clear that scientific data should be used to support the development of big models, deeply excavate all kinds of scientific data including scientific and technological literature, construct a scientific knowledge resource base through fine-grained knowledge extraction, build high-quality corpora and basic scientific datasets, and support the development of general artificial intelligence big models and the training of vertical domain artificial intelligence big models.

In terms of strengthening data security, the Action Plan makes it clear that it will implement data security regulations and systems, establish a sound data security governance system, improve the data classification and grading protection system, implement systems such as network security level protection and key information infrastructure security protection, strengthen personal information protection, and enhance the level of data security.

Liu Liehong, director of the National Data Bureau, said that accelerating the development and utilization of data in various industries and fields can improve the efficiency of various elements, find the "optimal solution" for resource allocation, break through the output boundary, and help to create new industries and new forms of business, and realize the multiplier effect of promoting economic development.

Zhao Gang, president of Saiji Industry Research Institute, said that China's digital infrastructure is a global leader, digital technology and industrial system is improving, laying a solid foundation for better play the role of data elements. However, there are also problems such as insufficient scenario release, insufficient data supply and poor circulation mechanism. The Action Plan is expected to further expand the breadth and depth of data application scenarios in various industries and fields, with the main line of promoting high-level application of data elements, and the focus on promoting synergistic optimization, reuse and efficiency enhancement, and the role of integration and innovation of data elements.

In addition, under the vigorous promotion of all parties, China's data industry is developing rapidly. Data from Shanghai Data Exchange shows that from 2013 to 2023, the number of Chinese digital business enterprises increased from about 110,000 to over 1 million.