The Jinan Innovation Zone, with its strong industrial base and dynamic innovation environment, is emerging as a key driver of China's industrial software sector.

The software industry is one of Jinan's most important sectors, generating 585.6 billion yuan ($80.8 billion) in revenue in 2024. Industrial software alone contributed 35 billion yuan, accounting for 11.9 percent of the national total.

The Jinan Innovation Zone is now home to a growing number of leading companies in the industrial software sector, developing a full-chain solution spanning research and development, design, manufacturing, and operations, while showcasing strong capabilities in core technological innovation and breakthroughs.

One notable example is Hoteam Software, a provider of 3D-focused intelligent manufacturing solutions. Its core product, CrownCAD, is a browser-based collaborative design platform with fully independent intellectual property. It supports real-time multi-user modeling, version control, and private deployment-greatly improving design efficiency across R&D and production.

Another key player is Shanxin Software, a leader in metallurgical IT services. The company has made huge strides in the development and application of M2ES systems and industrial robotics. It holds 177 invention and utility model patents, 221 software copyrights, and 60 registered software products.

Meanwhile, Yunding Tech focuses on IT services for the energy sector and industrial intelligence applications, offering comprehensive digital solutions across sectors such as mining, power, chemicals and new energy.

To further accelerate industrial software development, the Jinan Innovation Zone has established the Jinan Industrial Software Research Institute, which focuses on design-oriented software to strengthen its advantages in CAD and EDA technologies and build a distinctive "CAX" industrial software ecosystem.

An employee of Hoteam Software uses the company's independently developed CrownCAD platform for online 3D modeling. [Photo/Shandian News]