The Intellectual Sports Park of Wuxi (IS-Park) is the first industrial park in China to feature “Internet plus Sports” and “Internet of Things (IoT) plus Sports” modes of operation. 

Internet plus technology has affected all aspects of modern life – including sports – where the latest techs, such as smart wearable devices and intelligent clothing have gained mass popularity.

The Intellectual Sports Park of Wuxi (IS-Park) is located at Wuxi National Software Park. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

So far, IS-Park has attracted 35 companies, including sports R&D, rehabilitation, events and information service companies. Its annual output value is expected to surpass 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in the near future. 

The park has adopted the mode of combining incubation and investment. One company thriving in this mode is sports app company FitTime. Since its recent establishment, the company has received 10 million yuan in investment from Toread, a listed Chinese outdoor sportswear manufacturer and 50 million yuan from Oriental Fortune Capital and ShouTai Capital.

IS-Park has setup the "Double Elephant Intellectual Sports Investment Fund", with the first-phase of paid-in investment at 100 million yuan, aimed at intellectual sports enterprises. 

The Wuxi government has worked with Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to launch Intellectual Sports Loans, with a maximum credit line 5 million yuan and the longest loan tenure of one to two years. Guarantees are given by the government and the companies can get the loans with a credit mortgage. 

On top of this, IS-Park serves sports startups. HaiYun Sports, a sports company founded by retired synchronized swimming champion Zhang Lei, is the first startup incubation base for retired athletes in Jiangsu province.

A water quality monitor system, developed by HaiYun Sports, can test the quality of swimming pool water using sensors. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]