On June 14, Shanxi Datong University inaugurated the digital economy research institute, the first think tank in northern Shanxi province dedicated to the digital economy and computing power industry. This marks a significant milestone in Datong's transition from a resource-dependent city to a modern, diversified economy.

The institute operates under a "university-industry-government" triad model, utilizing the university's research capabilities to accelerate the transformation of digital economy theories into practical technologies. It also feeds back into academic development and talent cultivation. As an industrial partner, the institute provides technical support for intelligent transformation, setting benchmark cases for industry upgrades. As a government think tank, it provides policy recommendations on data market reforms, facilitating precise governance.

Since the introduction of the Qinhuai Data Center project in 2018, Datong has vigorously promoted the construction of green data center clusters. This initiative aims to shift the city's development focus from "exporting coal and electricity" to "exporting computing power and services", exploring new paths for integrating the digital and real economies.

Last year, Datong achieved significant breakthroughs in building a "computing power city", including being selected as a national data annotation base, receiving recognition as a pioneer in green computing power, and becoming a model for data market reforms in China.

The establishment of the digital economy research institute exemplifies the city's commitment to driving new quality productive forces through digital transformation. It highlights the proactive role of local universities in responding to national strategies and showcases the innovative efforts of resource-dependent cities in exploring new pathways for transformation and upgrading.