This Week in WND (2025/12/07-2025/12/13)

Philip Rackliffe, GE HealthCare's CEO of Image Guided Therapies, visited Wuxi on Dec 10. He noted that the WND site has become a benchmark for the company's global operations in both productivity and innovation. As GE HealthCare approaches its 30th year in Wuxi next year, the company hopes to deepen cooperation in early disease screening and prevention with the city and further boost Wuxi's biopharma sector.

A senior team from France's Legrand Group visited WND on Dec 10 to discuss cooperation on smart lighting control systems and industry chain development. Legrand, which set up operations in WND in 2001, moved its entire smart lighting control business to Wuxi in 2024, establishing its East China HQ and Eliot program center in the city. The group plans to expand investment and bring more cutting-edge projects to WND in an effort to support the district's industrial upgrading.

Bodu Creative Park, located along the Bodu River, opened on Dec 7 in WND. Built around the idea of cultural reproduction, the park is expected to become a new hub for culture and creativity by bringing together competitions, exhibitions, education, and design services. It features three core zones: the Dashi Award Museum, Jiangnan Creative Hub, and the Jiangda Design.

WND unveiled an OPC Community at the Wuxi AI Industrial Park on Dec 8, introducing the tech-driven Magic Cube Space and a digital nomad village. Agreements for several projects focusing on AI navigation and other fields were also signed. WND is building diverse spaces for innovators and driving its AI industry forward.

WND held a signing ceremony on Dec 10 for the Four Points by Sheraton project. Located in the Wuxi (National) Software Park, the hotel will cover about 30,000 square meters with 220 premium room, over 5,000 square meters of meeting space, and fitness, dining, and leisure facilities.

Shangri-La and Traders signed a dual-brand hotel project in WND on Dec 12. Bringing together luxury and top-tier business travel, the project is scheduled to break ground in 2026. It will include around 450 lake-view rooms, flexible meeting space, and Michelin-level dining, strengthening WND's capacity for major events, business hospitality, and high-end services.

WND accounts for just 4.75% of Wuxi's land, yet generates 16% of the city's GDP. Over the past five years, it has advanced 23 standardized factory projects, adding more than 2 million sqm of industrial space, turning every inch of land into a driver of new quality productive forces.

Google and WND-based XREAL unveiled Project Aura at The Android Show on Dec 8. Powered by XREAL's X1S chip, the smart glasses will launch in 2026. Seen as the closest step toward the ideal Android XR device, Project Aura also marks the first time Gemini AI can truly "see" the world.

The latest provincial list of specialized and innovative SMEs has been released, with WND once again leading the city. A total of 224 new companies were selected, and an additional 107 passed review. Over the years, the district has received 626 recognitions, with 80 percent of the winners in fields such as advanced equipment, IoT, software, integrated circuits, new materials, and new energy.

The Ministry of Education recently announced the second round of national model cases for inclusive education, with 10 entries from Jiangsu making the list. Among them was a case submitted by Shuofang Experimental Primary School in WND, highlighting the district's steady progress in delivering high-quality inclusive education.

Jiangsu has announced its 2025 honorees for the May 1 Labor Awards, Worker Pioneer Awards, and Women's May 1 Awards, all celebrating outstanding contributions in the workplace. WND shines with two companies, five individuals, and six teams recognized for their excellence and dedication.

WND is fast-tracking major industrial projects as the year comes to a close. Key sites, including Han's Hanhe Robotics Park, Hongshan Optomechatronics Industrial Park, Phase II of the Biomedical Industrial Park, Phase II of Xinhu Smart Manufacturing Park, and Phase III of the Wuxi International Life-Science Innovation Campus, are all picking up pace, creating strong momentum for the district's economic growth.

WND has rolled out 50 public-focused projects across eight key areas this year. By the end of November, 33 had already hit their annual targets, with overall progress running smoothly. The district will ensure every project is delivered successfully, building a more caring community for residents.

WND is working hard to improve the quality and efficiency of government-funded projects. In 2025, 11 such projects with a planned investment of 1.6 billion yuan ($226.88 million) have been implemented. So far, 1.5 billion yuan has been invested, five projects are complete, and many others are progressing well.

Wuxi Shuofang Airport has achieved a historic breakthrough, cutting radar separation from 10 km to 5.6 km. As the first small or medium-sized airport in China to adopt this advanced management standard, it has ushered in a new era of faster skies.

WND saw the launch of its first Freshippo delivery station at Wuxi Powerlong Plaza on Dec 10. The online service took off quickly, handling over 1,000 orders in just half a day. This store-delivery station separation model is a first for Freshippo in Wuxi, with the physical store opening on Dec 31.