The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone reported a GDP of 152.2 billion yuan ($22.16 billion) for 2025, a year-on-year increase of 6.1%, with multiple economic indicators ranking among the highest in Hefei.

The growth was fueled by industrial upgrading and a robust high-tech service sector. In 2025, the zone added 38 national-level specialized and sophisticated "little giant" enterprises, bringing its total to 135 – 42% of Hefei's share. Listed companies reached 35, also accounting for 42% of the city's total. New-type R&D institutions, including the Anhui University Institute for Future Industry Innovation, increased the zone's total to 23, representing 40% of Hefei's tally.

Innovation remained a key driver. The zone released 54 scenario opportunities in 2025, with eight cases, such as the Yunxi Quantum Cloud Seal and iFlytek's AI cultural tourism model, recognized as provincial-level future industry benchmarks, accounting for 44.4% of Anhui's total.

The three leading clusters – new energy, AI-driven smart manufacturing, and health – reached industrial scales of 126.5 billion yuan, 188 billion yuan, and 32 billion yuan, respectively. The zone attracted over 80 quantum enterprises, a nationally leading number. The zone’s commercial aerospace sector surpassed 12 billion yuan in output, up 50% year on year, while its AI large models exceeded 45 billion yuan in total revenue. HiDream.ai and iFlytek were named two of Forbes China's AI Top 50. The zone was also designated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a key industrial park for cultivating future-oriented industries including quantum technology, commercial aerospace, and AI large models.

Looking ahead, Hefei High-Tech Zone targets a GDP growth of over 6% in 2026. By 2030, it aims to reach 225 billion yuan in GDP, supported by a robust industrial output surpassing 600 billion yuan and a network of over 4,500 national high-tech enterprises.