North China's Shanxi province made great progress in industrial and information technology development during the 13th Five-Year plan period (2016-20), according to the Shanxi Department of Industry and Information Technology on March 20. 

The national ranking of Shanxi's industrial growth rate of enterprises above the designated size jumped to eighth in 2020 from 29th in 2016, and the number of industrial enterprises above the designated size – those with annual revenue of more than 20 million yuan ($3.05 million) – increased from 3,548 in 2016 to 5,400 in 2020.

These enterprises further improved their independent innovation capabilities, making breakthroughs in key technological areas such as quantum communication, shredded steel and synthetic biology. These firms also manufactured a number of major products, including aerospace-grade carbon fiber, silicon carbide and autonomous controllable computers.

Throughout the five-year period, high-quality industrial transformation and development were underway in the province. 

Shanxi cut 820,000 metric tons of pig-iron production capacity, 6.55 million tons of crude steel production capacity and more than 41.29 million tons of coking production capacity. 

It promoted the development of 14 iconic and leading emerging industries, with the output value of high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, the digital economy, energy conservation and environmental protection exceeding 100 billion yuan. 

Big data and IT application innovation industries sprang up and grew rapidly in the province. There were eight national-level pilot demonstration enterprises for big data industrial development in the province by the end of 2020. 

Also, a total of 1,144 transformation projects were under construction in the province with support from local authorities.

New progress was made in green industrial development, with the reduction and harmless utilization of bulk industrial solid waste being promoted. Over the past five years, the province built 37 environmentally friendly factories and three green industrial parks, developed 16 green design products and established two green supply chains.