Shandong's low-altitude industry soars. [Photo/Shandian News]

Shandong is gearing up for the upcoming event featuring low-altitude industry value chain and development on June 24. The event will kickstart a series of initiatives, showcasing the province's solid foundation of the industry and comprehensive expansion of application scenarios, fueling new vitality into the high-quality development of regional economy.

Shandong is leveraging its comprehensive industrial base to bolster the low-altitude economy. As the only province in China with all 41 major industrial categories, it hosts 417 enterprises involved in the research and development, manufacturing, and production of general aviation aircraft, drones, engines, components, and aviation materials. The province's low-altitude economy has reached a scale of 42 billion yuan ($5.84 billion), with distinctive applications in agriculture, power inspection, and logistics.

Geographically, Shandong's strategic location at the intersection of East China and North China, coupled with its dense network of highways, ports, and general aviation airports, provides a natural advantage. By the end of 2024, it had 22 general aviation airports and 524 drone takeoff and landing platforms.

The province is also strengthening its policy support. It has formulated a three-year action plan for the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy, aiming to reach a scale of 100 billion yuan by 2027. Local cities like Qingdao and Binzhou are offering preferential policies to attract enterprises to low-altitude economy industrial parks.

With its robust industrial foundation, favorable geographical location, and supportive policies, Shandong is well-positioned to lead the low-altitude economy and inject new momentum into regional economic growth.

Furthermore, Shandong will promote the deep integration of the low-altitude economy and the real economy through scenario innovation. By the end of 2024, the province was home to 1,409 commercial drone companies and 119,000 registered drones. It had also launched 10 low-altitude logistics routes, 37 low-altitude tourism routes, and 47 low-altitude medical routes, with 14,300 people participating in aviation sports.