Schneider Electric Deepens Commitment to China, Drives Industrial Digitalization and Green Transitio
Time:2026-04-23 Browse: 1
Hannover, Germany, April 23 — Schneider Electric is increasing its investment in China to integrate more deeply into the country’s industrial development and achieve long-term growth, said Guenaelle Huet, Global Executive Vice President and Head of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, during an interview with Xinhua Finance at the Hannover Messe 2026.
Huet emphasized that the Chinese market is strategically critical for Schneider Electric, playing a pivotal role in advancing industrial digitalization and green transition. She noted that China is emerging as a global engine of industrial innovation, with strong application capabilities and rapid adoption of new technologies.
AI and Digitalization Driving Industrial Efficiency
Facing rising energy costs, supply chain uncertainties, and accelerated green transformation, industrial enterprises are increasingly relying on digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency. AI is evolving from early-stage applications to deeper integration within industrial equipment and production systems, enabling real-time process optimization and decision support.
Huet highlighted practical applications of AI across the industrial value chain, including quality inspection, equipment maintenance, process optimization, and energy management. In complex systems, AI technologies can dynamically adjust operational parameters to increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption, demonstrating their key role in driving industrial productivity.
Open, Software-Driven Industrial Systems
On a broader scale, Huet observed that global industry is undergoing structural transformation. Traditional, relatively closed systems are evolving toward open, flexible architectures, facilitating seamless collaboration across devices and systems and supporting the continuous adoption of new technologies.
Schneider Electric is advancing industrial systems toward open, software-driven models, integrating control systems, data, and AI capabilities to allow factories to operate and upgrade more flexibly. Huet stated, “Open architectures are becoming a critical direction for industrial digitalization, improving efficiency and laying the foundation for large-scale AI deployment.”
China: Innovation and Industrial Collaboration Hub
According to Huet, China is one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative industrial markets, characterized by rapid technology adoption, strong industrial collaboration, and high receptiveness to new technologies. Schneider Electric has been present in China for 39 years, establishing a localized ecosystem encompassing R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. The company continues to expand R&D investment, focusing on energy management and industrial automation. Its China-based R&D centers are developing next-generation smart controllers, reflecting deep synergy between local innovation and the global R&D network.
“China is not only our second-largest market globally but also increasingly critical in manufacturing, R&D, and innovation,” Huet said. Schneider Electric follows a “In China, For the World” approach, leveraging local technology, applications, and practices to enhance global product and solution development.
Looking Ahead: China’s Industrial Transformation
Huet believes China’s industrial digitalization speed, supply chain collaboration, and systemic innovation give it unique global value. With continued high-level openness, the country offers multinationals significant opportunities to participate in local industrial upgrading. Over the next five years, China aims to accelerate the development of modern industrial systems, upgrade traditional industries, foster emerging sectors, and promote new productive forces through renewable energy and AI-driven innovation, unlocking further industrial transformation potential.
“Today, China has become one of Schneider Electric’s key supply chain and R&D bases. We firmly believe that investing in China is investing in the future,” Huet concluded.
