Ministry of Transport Launches the "AI+ Transportation" Ten-Hundred-Thousand Innovation, Initiative to Boost "One Network, Four Modernizations"
Source: China Transportation News
The 2026 National Transportation Work Conference explicitly called for accelerating the construction of a modern, high-quality national integrated multi-modal transportation network, emphasizing the “One Network, Four Modernizations” development direction: integrated convergence, enhanced safety, digital and intelligent upgrades, and green transformation. Aligned with this core objective, the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Transport launched the “Artificial Intelligence + Transportation” Ten-Hundred-Thousand Innovation Initiative to promote the large-scale application of AI in the transportation sector.
I. Implementing the “AI+Transportation” Ten-Hundred-Thousand Innovation Initiative
The initiative focuses on ten key areas including intelligent driving, smart shipping, intelligent logistics, and intelligent safety supervision. It aims to facilitate the implementation of 860 typical application scenarios and mobilize participation from over 1,000 innovation entities. It leverages scenario-based demonstrations to spur technological iteration and scale AI applications in transportation. Additionally, it promotes the high-standard construction of national AI pilot bases to accelerate the conversion of cutting-edge technologies into productive force.
II. Building a Digital and Intelligent Foundation for Smart Integrated Multi-modal Transportation
Accelerate the construction of a “1+N+X” comprehensive transportation big model system, forming a technical foundation that integrates general and specialized capabilities for coordinated operation. Develop vertical domain models and practical intelligent agents for emergency dispatch, road network control, and other functions, driving deep AI integration into industry management services. Upgrade the National Integrated Transportation Information Platform 2.0 to create a “smart brain” and “data hub” with analytical and decision-making capabilities. Continue hosting the Second Comprehensive Transportation Large Model Intelligent Agent Innovation Application Competition to drive research through competition and production through application, cultivating a cohort of “single-item champions.”
III. Advancing Six Landmark Innovation Projects
Focusing on six key directions, we will develop a series of landmark innovation projects for intelligent, integrated, and multi-modal transportation networks, exploring new models for the intelligent and autonomous transformation of transportation:
Focusing on scenarios such as container port distribution and bulk cargo trunk logistics, we will develop innovative projects like intelligent truck driving on major corridors and autonomous convoy navigation for inland freight vessels, creating new-quality infrastructure, new-quality carriers, new-quality systems, and new-quality services.
Focusing on transportation system resilience, develop major innovation projects like intelligent disaster management for transportation infrastructure and free-flow tolling systems for highways, building self-sensing, self-decision-making, and self-executing intelligent infrastructure entities.
Focusing on future transportation development, plan pioneering innovation projects for smart integrated multi-modal transportation in metropolitan areas, advance innovative applications of maglev systems, and establish efficient, cross-regional, cross-modal autonomous intelligent operation systems.
IV. Implementing the “Hundred Data Initiatives” Innovation Action
Develop high-quality industry datasets covering integrated transportation planning, low-altitude logistics, and road/waterway network operations. Establish public data resource catalogs and authorized operation standards, substantially advancing public data licensing. Deepen data sharing and exchange to achieve "full aggregation and comprehensive sharing," forming a collaborative framework between the ministry and provinces with clearly defined rights and responsibilities.
V. Advance Rapid, High-Quality, and Robust Standardization Reform and Innovation
Establish a rapid iteration and update mechanism for the standard system, strengthening the coordinated development of technological innovation and standardization. Develop an innovation application standard system for “AI + Transportation,” enhancing standard supply in key areas such as artificial intelligence, land-air coordination, multimodal transport, safety enhancement, and green low-carbon initiatives, while focusing on elevating the internationalization level of standards.
The 15th Five-Year Plan period is crucial for building China into a powerhouse of science, technology, and transportation. The Ministry of Transport will focus on the large-scale application of AI, driving integrated development through "technological breakthroughs—scenario validation—industrial application—system upgrades," to support the "One Network, Four Modernizations" initiative and lead the global intelligent transformation of transportation.
