China's first marine big data application center has been unveiled in Qingdao, Shandong province, aiming to improve data sharing, expand practical applications, and unlock the economic potential of marine data.

Jointly established by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Qingdao municipal government, the Qingdao Marine Big Data Application Center will facilitate the collection, sharing, and use of marine data across government agencies, research institutions, and businesses.

Marine data has traditionally been scattered across different organizations, making it costly to collect and difficult to share. The new center aims to break down these barriers and support the development of data-driven products and services.

The center has already compiled a catalog of more than 700 marine datasets, identified nearly 100 potential applications, and developed four initial use cases, including intelligent marine disaster monitoring and vessel planning.

Qingdao has built a strong foundation for marine data applications. By the end of 2025, the city had accumulated more than 10 billion high-quality marine data records, with a total data volume of 50 petabytes.

The city has also used marine data for disaster warning, environmental monitoring, smart port operations, and data trading, demonstrating its potential to improve efficiency and support the marine economy.