A high-tech cluster in central China's Hubei Province has been witnessing huge growth in recent years, with the rapid development of emerging industries such as optoelectronic information and intelligent manufacturing driving its expansion. The East Lake High-tech Development Zone, also known as the Optics Valley, is becoming a key technology center in Hubei's provincial capital Wuhan, where it is gathering talent and continuing to make innovative breakthroughs. Optics Valley is now leading the country's optoelectronic information industry, while making advances in the fields of digital economy, 5G, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT). These developments have contributed to Hubei Province becoming the world's largest production base for optical fibers and cables, making up about 25 percent of the global market and 50 percent of the domestic market. The Optics Valley site itself has considerable history, as it was here where China's first optical fiber was developed back in 1976, with the sector continuing to go from strength to strength. During the country's 14th Five-Year Plan period period (2021-2025), Optics Valley has attracted some 16,000 optoelectronic information companies, taking the total value of this industry in Hubei above one trillion yuan (over 140 billion U.S. dollars), with products being exported to more than 100 countries and regions around the world. Insiders explained how the recent breakthroughs made here are helping to lead the way, with these ultra-fast fiber optic cables now serving businesses around the world. "In the past, solid quartz optical fibers had a transmission speed of 200,000 kilometers per second due to attenuation. In contrast, hollow optical fibers in a vacuum experience have almost no attenuation, allowing speeds to approach 300,000 kilometers per second. This enhancement boosts transmission speed and reduces latency by over 30 percent, achieving a world-leading standard," said Zhuang Dan, chairman of the national key laboratory for advanced manufacturing and application technology of fiber optic cables at the Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC). Meanwhile, lasers, another important component produced as part of the optoelectronic information industry here, are now being widely applied in semiconductors, smart driving technology devices, and display screens. To effectively use and industrialize these achievements, the government has created a shared and open pilot platform, encouraging collaboration among businesses, universities, and research institutions, so as to speed up the transition from research to practical use. "We focus on an 'application-oriented' approach, meaning our needs are driven by the real demands of the industry. We define our research directions based on these demands to address the key common technologies throughout the supply chain. Ultimately, we develop these technologies and share them with all partners across the supply chain," said Wu Chang, director of the technology development department at Hubei Jiufeng Mountain Laboratory. The number of high-tech enterprises in Hubei has nearly tripled since the end of 2020, with around 30,000 now being based in the province. The number of small and medium-sized sci-tech enterprises has seen more than a fivefold rise during the last five years to now exceed 46,000, ranking Hubei the fourth in the country. The value of technology contracts has also tripled during this same period to now exceed 550 billion yuan (over 77 billion U.S. dollars), ranking third nationwide. Additionally, the added value of the core industries in the digital economy in Hubei has grown to surpass 574 billion yuan (over 80 billion U.S. dollars), reflecting a 139 percent increase since the end of the government's previous Five-Year Plan period in 2020. SHOTLIST: Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - Recent 1. Exterior of buildings; 2. Various of high-tech equipment; 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhuang Dan, chairman, national key laboratory for advanced manufacturing and application technology of fiber optic cables, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC) (ending with shot 4): "In the past, solid quartz optical fibers had a transmission speed of 200,000 kilometers per second due to attenuation. In contrast, hollow optical fibers in a vacuum experience have almost no attenuation, allowing speeds to approach 300,000 kilometers per second. This enhancement boosts transmission speed and reduces latency by over 30 percent, achieving a world-leading standard."; 4. Various of machine in operation; 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wu Chang, director, technology development department, Hubei Jiufeng Mountain Laboratory (ending with shot 6): "We focus on an 'application-oriented' approach, meaning our needs are driven by the real demands of the industry. We define our research directions based on these demands to address the key common technologies throughout the supply chain. Ultimately, we develop these technologies and share them with all partners across the supply chain."; 6. Various of machine in operation, researchers; 7. Various of people controlling robots to complete everyday tasks. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]