Foshan Internet+ Innovative Start-up Industrial Park was launched in Foshan, Guangdong province, on Monday to accommodate data-based business and facilitate the transformation of the manufacturing sector.

The southern part of the park, covering 20 hectares, was developed by State-owned Foshan Gongying Investment Holding Co, IBM and Shanghai-based De Tao Group.

This section is designed to bring together the global innovation masters in De Tao's network, IBM scientists, non-State capital and design graduates from Chinese universities to serve small and medium-sized enterprises across the country.

The northern part of the park, measuring about 10 hectares, is devoted to big data-related industries.

The South China branch for the management of National E-Government Network, an industrial design-related Internet of Things IBM cloud platform, a South China big data base of China Unicom and 18 other projects have pledged to settle in the park.

Foshan's traditional manufacturing sector, which is well developed, is expected to move to a much higher level with the help of Internet Plus development, said Long Yongtu, former vice-minister of commerce.

The move in Foshan, integrating global high-end resources, will help boost confidence in China's traditional manufacturing industry, he said.