Longgang unveils incentive package to boost smart glasses industry

As smart glasses are rapidly becoming recognized as the next generation “super terminal” following the smartphone, Longgang District, a global hub for high-end eyewear manufacturing, has officially implemented a series of special supporting measures to bolster the development of the smart glasses industry.

Visitors browse optical products at the Shenzhen International Optical Fair at Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District in June. File photos

The strategic move aligns with projections from industry organizations estimating that global AI glasses shipments will double to 16 million units by 2026, and surge to 80 million units by 2030, creating a trillion-yuan-scale market.

Longgang’s goal is backed by over 40 years of industrial development, boasting nearly 1,000 eyewear manufacturing enterprises and accounting for 90% of China’s high-end eyewear designers. The district accounts for over 50% of the global mid-to-high-end eyewear market, creating a highly integrated ecosystem of precision manufacturing and fashion design.

The global appeal of Longgang’s eyewear industry was recently highlighted during the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry held in Shenzhen from July 27 to 28, 2026, where Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, tried on holographic AI glasses from LOHO, a prominent Longgang enterprise. 

Another local pioneer, Arts Optical Group, has partnered with technology giant Huawei to launch STEPPER smart glasses, carving out a differentiated path by blending traditional optics with AI and generating 500 million yuan (US$69 million) in sales last year in high-end European and American markets.

A pair of STEPPER smart glasses, developed by Arts Optical Group in partnership with Huawei, is displayed.

To address specific bottlenecks in the smart glasses supply chain, the newly released measures, which take effect Aug. 3 for a three-year term, outline targeted financial incentives.

First, the policy encourages eyewear enterprises to upgrade their existing facilities, processes, and equipment using new technologies and materials, offering up to 20 million yuan annually to each enterprise to foster benchmark demonstration projects.

Second, the district supports the construction and expansion of production lines, providing up to 200,000 yuan annually  to each enterprise for digital transformation to secure Longgang's status as a global precision wearable manufacturing hub.

Additionally, Longgang is promoting the integration of smart glasses with AI and the industrial internet by offering up to 300,000 yuan annually  to each enterprise to support application scenarios in industrial, medical, municipal, and security fields.

Greek product designer and trained optician Paris Koutsavelis receives an award at 2026 Shenzhen International Eyewear (AI) Design Contest in Shenzhen.

The policy also allocates up to 2 million yuan annually for public service platform projects and establishes a talent development initiative that will reward up to 10 selected traditional industry craftsmen with 30,000 yuan each annually. 

To boost marketing and brand building, Longgang will fund enterprises participating in major domestic and international exhibitions, support major local events and exhibitions with up to 5 million yuan per event, and strengthen the Shenzhen Eyewear Industry Intellectual Property Protection Station.

Financial backing is equally strong, with an industry fund pool totaling over 48 billion yuan, including the Kunpeng Fund that focuses specifically on the AI glasses sector, alongside a government commitment to procuring at least 10.5 billion yuan in technology projects over the next three years to provide enterprises with crucial initial orders.

In addition, Longgang is rapidly expanding its physical and collaborative infrastructure for the industry. The Yuanshan Eyewear Intelligent Manufacturing Park, the country’s first vertical factory project dedicated to eyewear, has been delivered, while the Henggang AI+ Eyewear Center, China's first AI smart glasses-themed commercial complex, officially opened in July 2026. 

Exterior view of the Henggang AI+ Eyewear Center.

These physical spaces, combined with supporting platforms like the Shenzhen International Eyewear Exhibition, the Global Intelligent Hardware Valley (AI Hub), and the local IP protection station, establish a comprehensive support system to propel Longgang into a leading global hub for smart glasses innovation.