Recently, Axera Semiconductor Co., Ltd. was selected for the Zhejiang “Tech Dragon” enterprise list, recognized for its cutting-edge technological breakthroughs and outstanding growth potential in the AI chip sector. Axera stood out from nearly 400 candidate enterprises, and this recognition not only demonstrates the company’s innovative strength but also showcases the symbiotic relationship between Zhejiang Province’s innovation ecosystem and tech companies—the regional innovation system continuously empowers enterprise growth, while leading enterprises further strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem through technological advancement and industry leadership.
Zhejiang’s innovation ecosystem provides comprehensive growth support for “Tech Dragons”, as part of the Tech Dragon Discovery and Support Initiative initiated by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Xinhua News Agency Zhejiang Branch, and the Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology. This initiative provides full-cycle growth support for emerging tech companies that demonstrate core technological breakthrough capabilities. The selection criteria are highly stringent—companies must have achieved annual revenue or valuation growth rates exceeding 30% over the past three years. Selected companies will receive targeted support across policy, technology, finance, and branding from Zhejiang Province, helping accelerate the commercialization of their R&D achievements.
Selected companies must possess substantial technical capabilities to drive transformation in their specialized fields. Founded in 2019, Axera focuses on developing high-performance, low-power AI chips for edge and terminal inference. Pursuing a proprietary core IP strategy, the company has successfully developed two key technologies: AXProton AI-ISP and AXNeutron mixed precision NPU, which provide essential computing power and perception capabilities for assisted driving, On-device Computing, and Edge AI Inference applications. Since its founding, the company has developed and mass-produced multiple chip generations, achieving remarkable commercial scaling speed in the industry.
As a key player in the industrial innovation chain, Axera generates positive feedback effects for the regional ecosystem. Headquartered in Ningbo, this high-tech enterprise has deeply integrated its development into Zhejiang’s industrial landscape, fostering close collaboration and efficient coordination with upstream and downstream companies throughout the provincial and municipal supply chains. This integration provides strong momentum for Ningbo’s strategic goal of becoming a global smart manufacturing innovation hub and an integrated circuit and AI technology industry center.
Being selected as a “Tech Dragon” company provides Axera with enhanced resource support and broader development opportunities. For Zhejiang Province, the continued rise of advanced tech companies like Axera strengthens the foundation of its regional innovation ecosystem. This symbiotic relationship between companies and the region will drive progress toward a more dynamic and promising innovative future.
