To carry out the plans of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, and to fulfill the requirements outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan regarding the enrichment of smart home scenarios and the support for the renovation and intelligent upgrading of older homes, the government is aiming to meet the consumer needs of different groups by expanding the supply of quality products. A new action plan has been developed to further promote spending on smart home technology.
On the supply side, the plan encourages manufacturers to step up research and development of smart home products. It also supports home furnishing malls and shopping centers in setting up experience centers, full-home smart living displays, and digital home model rooms. The initiative aims to cultivate large home improvement companies and platforms that operate with integrity and standardized services, offering personalized and diverse renovation packages while developing custom, order-based, and appointment-based service models. Another key focus is the development of smart home software and hardware products, as well as integrated solutions, based on domestic open-source operating systems.
To improve the standards system, the plan calls for the refinement of the smart home product intelligence grading and evaluation framework. This includes accelerating the formulation and implementation of mandatory national standards for smart home interconnection to promote the integrated development of full-home intelligence. It stipulates that the broadband network equipment of telecom operators should have IPv6 enabled by default to improve household network connectivity. For newly built, fully-furnished residential buildings, basic smart home features must be incorporated, and the installation of fiber-to-the-room infrastructure is encouraged. Continuous efforts will be made to develop and apply key standards for smart homes and smart communities.
Regarding consumer support, in line with the 2026 policy for trade-ins of consumer goods, local governments are being given the autonomy to determine the categories of smart home products eligible for subsidies and the specific subsidy standards, based on their local circumstances. This approach is designed to coordinate and support the purchase of new full-home smart systems. Furthermore, efforts are underway to expand the supply of elder-care oriented smart home products. This includes promoting items like home service robots, health monitoring devices, and smart caregiving equipment. Companies will be guided to adopt age-friendly designs in terms of product dimensions, ease of operation, dialect recognition, and safety performance. A certification system for silver economy products in the field of age-friendly smart home goods is also being promoted.
The plan also addresses the improvement of recycling services for old furniture and appliances. Local authorities are being directed to set up recycling collection points scientifically, integrate the construction of these points into relevant plans, and provide land and spatial support. Home furnishing and renovation companies are encouraged to partner with recycling firms to offer services such as the simultaneous delivery of new items and collection of old ones, as well as internet-based recycling. The use of mobile recycling models, where trucks act as mobile depots, is also being promoted to facilitate easier disposal of large household items.
Community-level services are another area of focus. Building on the construction of convenient living circles, leading enterprises will be encouraged to establish comprehensive home renovation service stations in qualified neighborhoods and communities. These stations will integrate convenient services such as repair and maintenance, item storage, and trade-in functions while also serving as experience spaces for full-home intelligence. Finally, the plan emphasizes increased financial support. Financial institutions are encouraged to develop diverse consumer finance products and services tailored to home improvement and furnishing needs. The policy for fiscal interest subsidies on personal consumer loans will be utilized to guide financial institutions in strengthening loan support for smart home purchases and related products. The action plan was jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the State Administration for Market Regulation on September 2, 2026.