Inspur Group

The story of Inspur Group begins not in a garage, but as a state-run entity called the Shandong Electronics Device Plant in the 1960s. Its early work was foundational, producing transistors for China's first satellite. A pivotal moment came in 1983 when the company, under the leadership of Sun Pishu who would become its long-term Chairman and CEO, developed one of China's first microcomputers. This marked its decisive entry into the IT world. A significant turning point was the development of China's first micro-server in 1993, a move that challenged the dominance of foreign manufacturers in the domestic market. This innovation set the stage for Inspur to become a major force in the server industry. The company continued to evolve, and its subsidiaries later went public on the Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Hong Kong stock exchanges. For instance, Inspur Electronic Information Industry, a key subsidiary, had its IPO on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. By the 2000s, Inspur was expanding its focus to cloud computing, big data, and AI. A notable event was a $20 million investment from Microsoft in 2005, signaling confidence in the company's direction. Over the years, Inspur has grown into a global IT provider, serving over 120 countries and regions and becoming one of the world's top server manufacturers. Its business now spans across cloud services, enterprise software, and smart city solutions, cementing its role as a key player in digital transformation.