After it first announced its grand plan to become a nationwide big-data center two years ago, the Guizhou Provincial Government continues along the path to reach its goal in early 2015.
The vice governor of the province spoke with the media to provide an update on Sunday, and revealed that, in addition to its big-data ambition, which should be finalized this year, Guizhou is also intent on providing big-data services in 2016 and big-data finance the year after that.
The provincial government's Wang Jiangping made it clear that such large-scale projections have been envisioned on a national scale, as the officials of Guizhou plan to become a big-data epicenter for the whole of China.
Notably, Wang's statements were made in the wake of a number of significant activities that have been held since the 2013 announcement.
Both the 2014 Ali Cloud Developer Summit and 2014 Guizhou Big Data Business Model Contest were staged last year in the capital of Guiyang, with the latter recently held on Dec. 21. Leading up to the December event, the government raised 20 billion yuan ($3.2 billion) so that it can act as a venture capital fund in the big-data industry. The fund is also the source of the 20-million-yuan ($3.2 million) prize for the contest's 20 winners.
The contest eventually attracted 4,872 teams, while 10 displays were viewed by attendees. Even though just under 500 of the entrants articulated a commitment to establish themselves in Guizhou, the provincial government confirmed that it will use the prize to encourage the 20 winners.
According to Ma Ningyu, the deputy executive director of the province's economy and information commission, a time limit does not restrict the Guizhou government's 20-billion fund, so it is maintaining a long-term view of the entire process.