Nanjing’s new frontier: tech shapes the next-gen workplace

Two major events in May 2025 marked a pivotal moment in Nanjing’s digital economy. The signing of the agreement for AutoNavi's Low-Altitude East China Headquarters in Jiangbei New Area and the launch of the world's first 6G low-altitude experimental network by Purple Mountain Laboratories underscore the city's strategic push into future-facing industries. These developments highlight Nanjing's focus on three core pillars: AI (low-altitude economy/robotics), 5G/6G (future networks), and TMT (technology, media, and telecommunications sector including data elements).

Figure 1: Transformative demand shift: innovation hubs grow value in Nanjing’s main urban core

Source: JLL Research

Note 1: “Low-altitude economy”: a comprehensive economic formation characterized by various low-altitude flight activities of manned and unmanned aircraft, which drives the integrated development of related fields. Its related products primarily include drones, eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), helicopters, traditional fixed-wing aircraft, among others, encompassing both consumer and industrial application scenarios.

Grounded in the digital and real economies, this industrial policy is accelerated by a ’rainforest innovation ecosystem’ where universities, enterprises and the government can collaborate seamlessly. 

Figure 2: Heat map of “Digital Economy” enterprises across Nanjing's commercial real estate market

Source: JLL Research

Note 2: “Rainforest innovation ecosystem”: an innovation paradigm inspired by the characteristics of a tropical rainforest. Rather than focusing on cultivating specific companies or talents, it aims to foster an environment characterized by diversity, symbiosis, and open collaboration in order to more effectively give birth to unpredictable and breakthrough innovations.

Crucially, this tech surge is reshaping Nanjing’s commercial real estate landscape, as office buildings are evolving from cost centres to vital innovation enablers.

On the demand side, companies in the three core sectors are seeking purpose-built, use case-driven environments rather than traditional office space. AI firms need to deploy local computing power; 6G companies must test signal propagation; and metaverse innovators seek environments with high immersion and interactive capabilities. This drives a strong preference for office assets with advanced tech attributes. Furthermore, the adoption of these technologies is spurring new internal functions, such as legal and compliance roles, creating diversified, secondary demand within the same buildings.

On the supply side, developers are evolving from passive landlords to active ecosystem curators, bridging the gap between physical space and digital enterprise needs. Through smart building systems, shared R&D spaces, and proactive data service platforms, office space is becoming a dynamic hub for testing, collaboration, and value creation.

This symbiotic relationship between industry and space is visible across Nanjing’s ’twin-core’ geography. Jiangbei New Area has emerged as a hub for low-altitude manufacturing and hard tech, while Jiangning District is forming a 6G and digital creativity cluster. The main urban submarkets act as a "value converter," where tech momentum translates into commercial real estate vitality.

Looking ahead, the completion of major projects like Jiangbei New Area’s "Chip City" and Jiangning District’s "Wireless Valley" will further accelerate this trend. The "Digital Golden Triangle" of Hexi-Xinjiekou-Gulou submarkets is poised to become the central platform for Nanjing’s productive forces. Here, every square metre of office space is transforming into a node for innovation, making the city's commercial real estate a true barometer of its tech-driven future.