A new coordinated initiative has been launched by eight government departments to invigorate the smart home sector and cater to evolving consumer demands.

The action plan is designed to align with the strategic goals outlined in the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan, focusing on enriching smart home scenarios and modernizing older residences through adaptive and intelligent upgrades, thereby expanding the availability of high-quality offerings for a diverse range of buyers.

Increasing the Supply of Superior Smart Home Products

A key focus is to encourage manufacturers to intensify research and development efforts. This will be supported by establishing experience centers and model rooms for whole-home intelligence within furniture malls and shopping centers, allowing customers to interact with the latest technology firsthand. Concurrently, the plan aims to cultivate reputable home improvement companies that can offer personalized and varied renovation packages, with a strong emphasis on customized, order-based, and appointment-based services. Efforts will also be directed toward creating a suite of software and hardware solutions built on domestic open-source operating systems, providing a complete, integrated smart home ecosystem.

Refining the Standards and Infrastructure for Smart Homes

To ensure a seamless user experience, the initiative calls for the enhancement of a gradation evaluation system for smart home products. This includes the rapid implementation of mandatory national standards for device interoperability to promote unified whole-home integration. Telecommunications providers will be tasked with enabling IPv6 by default on home broadband equipment to boost network connectivity rates. For newly constructed, fully-furnished residences, guidelines will mandate the installation of basic smart products and encourage the deployment of fiber-optic connections to each room. Furthermore, work will continue on establishing and applying key standards for smart communities and residences.

Facilitating Smart Home Purchases

In alignment with the 2026 policy for trade-in consumer goods, local authorities are empowered to define subsidy categories and levels for smart home products based on regional realities. This approach also ensures comprehensive support for the purchase of new, whole-home smart systems.

Developing Age-Friendly Smart Living Solutions

A dedicated effort will be made to promote products tailored for the elderly, including home service robots, health monitoring devices, and intelligent caregiving aids. Companies are being guided to adopt senior-friendly design principles in terms of product dimensions, operational convenience, dialect recognition, and safety features. The plan also advocates for a certification system specifically for silver-economy products within the smart home sphere, ensuring quality and suitability for older users.

Streamlining the Recycling and Service Chain

The plan directs local authorities to plan and establish convenient collection points for old furniture and home goods, integrating these into local planning frameworks with necessary land and space support. Collaboration between home furnishing companies and recycling firms is encouraged to offer services like "delivery of new items with collection of old ones" and "internet + recycling" models. The promotion of a mobile "vehicle-as-warehouse" recycling approach is also highlighted to increase efficiency.

Improving Community Convenience Services

Leveraging the "15-minute convenience living circle" initiative, leading enterprises will play a pivotal role in setting up comprehensive home renewal service stations in eligible neighborhoods and communities. These stations will integrate a range of services, including repair and maintenance, temporary storage, and trade-in programs, while also serving as immersive showrooms for whole-home smart technology experiences.

Strengthening Financial and Fiscal Support

To make smart home adoption more accessible, financial institutions are encouraged to develop a wide array of consumer finance products tailored to home renovation and furnishing needs. The plan also involves utilizing fiscal discount policies for personal consumption loans, guiding financial entities to increase credit support for smart home purchases, and actively assisting consumers in acquiring these advanced products.

The initiative is a joint effort 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.