THero has evolved from a startup competition into a comprehensive regional innovation ecosystem in Tianhe district. By connecting government, academia, enterprises, and capital, it has facilitated the growth of the Wushan-encircled innovation source area, strengthening the integration of technology and industry.

The THero platform is increasingly impacting industry incubation. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

Notable outcomes include Guangzhou's "unicorn" and leading incubator lists, which feature Tianhe-headquartered innovators like EV giant GAC Aion and agri-tech leader XAG, highlighting the district's role in strategic emerging industries. In 2025, Tianhe accounted for 42 of Guangzhou's 210 listed innovative enterprises, leading in the "unicorn" and "seed unicorn" categories.

Tianhe's strategic foothold in frontier sectors like the low-altitude economy industry. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

The ecosystem continues to develop through "THero 2.0", which shifts from event-based activities to embedded industrial services. This aligns with Guangzhou's vital innovation axis, positioning Tianhe as a central hub linking research and application.

Over the past decade, Tianhe's innovation drive has yielded substantial results: 28,000 technology firms were added in 2024 alone, and in the first half of 2025, its digital economy core industries grew to account for 22.2 percent of regional GDP. The district also maintains a leading position in key innovation metrics such as R&D investment.

Looking ahead, Tianhe plans to add over 8 million square meters of R&D space in the next three years, focusing on fields like AI and synthetic biology to drive future growth.

Tianhe advances innovation to sustain industrial vitality. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]