Published by ChinaMNC · Chaya

Physical AI and World Models: What Jiangsu's 2026 Conference Signals for Foreign Founders

Jiangsu hosted the 2026 Physical AI and World Models Conference in Nanjing on October 20, announcing new funds, industry alliances, data initiatives, and national standards work. Here is what foreign founders should take away about Jiangsu's policy direction and the practical steps that follow.

Why This Conference Matters to Foreign Founders

On October 20, the 2026 Physical AI and World Models Conference opened in Nanjing under the theme "Modeling the Physical World, Enabling a Better Future." For foreign founders evaluating where to register or expand a company in China, the event is less about speeches and more about the concrete instruments announced alongside them: an investment fund, industry alliances, a data action plan, project signings, and the launch of national standards pre-research. Each of these points to where provincial support, talent, and capital are likely to flow.

Governor Liu Xiaotao attended and addressed the opening. Also speaking were Xia Bing, deputy director of the National Data Administration; Tan Tieniu, chairman of the World Data Organization; and Dai Qionghai, chairman of the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence.

What the Province Said It Will Do

Governor Liu described physical AI and world models as an important direction in which AI technology extends toward the objective real world, upgrades toward systematic cognition, and moves into real physical scenarios. He said Jiangsu will focus on five areas:

• Expanding scenario applications
• Gathering innovative talent
• Strengthening the computing power base
• Improving the industrial ecosystem
• Creating a favorable environment

The stated aim is to build support across the full chain — academic research, technical breakthroughs, scenario validation, and industry cultivation — covering all elements and the entire process. Liu also expressed the hope to work with top global talent, quality teams, and innovative enterprises to explore new frontiers of AI.

For a foreign founder, this is a signal of policy priority rather than a specific entitlement. It suggests that physical AI, embodied intelligence, and data-related activities in Jiangsu may find receptive local counterparts, but any registration, land, funding, or incentive arrangement still has to be negotiated with the relevant local authorities and confirmed in writing.

Remarks That Point to Practical Priorities

Xia Bing said Jiangsu's rich application scenarios provide a natural "training ground" for physical AI and world models, and expressed the hope that the province turns scenario advantages into data advantages, and data advantages into industrial advantages, taking the lead and setting an example.

Tan Tieniu said he expects the conference to serve as a link for deeper exchange and cooperation, promoting deep integration of the data chain, innovation chain, industrial chain, and talent chain, and turning conference outcomes into real productivity.

Dai Qionghai said the conference will help connect frontier technology with real industry demand, ground research innovation in industrial practice, drive industrial upgrading through technology iteration, and build an innovation ecosystem integrating industry, academia, and research.

Read together, the remarks emphasize scenarios, data, and industry-academia links. Foreign founders with deployable technology in these areas should expect local interest in pilots and validation, but should also expect data handling and standards compliance to be central to any partnership.

Concrete Announcements Made at the Event

Zhang Wenbing, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and executive vice governor, and Li Zhongjun, mayor of Nanjing, witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement for the "Physical AI and World Models Investment Fund."

Other announcements included:

• The establishment of the National Data Annotation Pilot Su-Wan City Alliance (Yangtze River Delta Data Annotation Joint Innovation Center).
• The establishment of the "Physical AI and World Models" Industry Alliance.
• The release of Jiangsu's "Physical AI and World Models High-Quality Dataset Action Plan."
• The release of typical achievements and typical scenarios in physical AI and world models.
• The signing of a batch of major projects.
• The establishment of the Embodied Intelligence Working Group of the National Information Standards Technical Committee.
• The launch of pre-research for the national standard "Artificial Intelligence — World Models."

Academicians, experts, and young entrepreneur representatives in the AI field gave keynote sharing sessions. Guests toured an exhibition before the opening.

Also attending were Secretary-General of the Provincial Government Zhao Jianjun; responsible officials from relevant departments and bureaus of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Data Administration; responsible officials from provincial departments and units and from each designated city; and representatives of enterprises, universities, research institutes, and investment institutions.

What Foreign Founders Should Do With This

Treat the announcements as a map of where to look, not as an offer. Practical steps include:

• Identify the right counterpart. Data annotation, embodied intelligence, and world-model work cuts across several bodies. Local commerce and industry bureaus, development zones, and the new alliances are reasonable starting points for introductions.
• Clarify data rules early. With a provincial dataset action plan and national standards pre-research underway, data sourcing, annotation, and cross-border transfer terms deserve attention before signing pilots.
• Check entity and licensing requirements. Whether you register a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, a joint venture, or a representative office will affect what you can do commercially. Confirm scope of business and sector-specific approvals with local authorities.
• Ask about fund participation. The investment fund was announced as a strategic cooperation signing; eligibility, stage focus, and process are not specified in the source and must be confirmed directly.
• Document incentives. Any promised support should be written into agreements with clear conditions and timelines.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.