Company takes 'virtual' view of the future

Chinese and Russian reporters visit PCI-Suntek Technology in Tianhe district, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Oct 28, 2016. They were shown mobile payments for subway entry and exit. (Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn)

PCI-Suntek Technology hit it big when it became a major supplier of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games, providing innovative IT solutions for the city's transportation and public security systems during the event.

Before that, the company was a distributor of information technology products for international giants such as Apple and IBM.

"Being a distributor of IBM and Apple won't make you big profits in the long term. We started investing a lot in research and development of smart solutions for public facilities in the early 1990s," said Liu Bin, assistant president of PCI-Suntek Technology.

The company's core intelligent technologies and products are now widely used in such areas as transportation, public safety and city management, covering more than 90 cities in China and the Asia-Pacific region.

"We have been constantly innovating intelligent technologies and integrated applications for big data in various areas, aiming to provide cities with more scientific and intelligent methods to deal with new challenges and build a better urban life," Liu said.

According to Liu, the Shanghai-listed company's sales of smart solutions and products would surpass 10 billion yuan ($1.47 billion) in 2017.

Reporters from Chinese and Russian media outlets experience virtual reality technology at Guangzhou Nined Digital Technology Company in Tianhe district in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Oct 28, 2016. (Photo by Zhu Xingxin / China Daily)

Like PCI-Suntek Technology, a growing number of other companies in the booming Tianhe district of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, have found sustainable business growth by developing core and innovative technologies.

Guangzhou Nined Digital Technology, which focuses on research and development of virtual reality technology and equipment, has developed into a leading player in the virtual reality industry since its establishment two years ago.

"The rapid development was based on increased investment in research and development of core technologies," said Zang Dedui, co-founder of the Guangzhou Nined Digital Technology.

As of 2015, the company's virtual reality products were in over 3,000 flagship stores in more than 50 countries and regions, according to Zang.

"Virtual reality is not all about internet-based entertainment. We will integrate the technology into various sectors such as education, automobiles, tourism, medicine and health, aiming to explore new business growth," Zang said.

According to Zang, the company has already begun cooperating with some carmakers to provide virtual driving.

"Virtual reality will be a big market in the near future. We will make greater investments in R&D to develop new technological innovations and solutions in new sectors," said Zang.

The company's sales of virtual reality products are predicted to reach more than 10 billion yuan within the next five years, according to Zang.

Zang was speaking to a group of Chinese and Russian media representatives on Friday, ahead of the China-Russia Internet Media Forum and China-Russia New Media Youth Leadership Summit, which are scheduled to open on Saturday in Guangzhou.

Technology companies in Guangzhou have become a strong force in the local economy as the city has been transforming its industrial structure.

By the end of 2015, the city had developed nearly 2,000 high and new technology enterprises, according to local government sources.