Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and eight other departments issued the "Implementation Opinions on the Special Action of 'Artificial Intelligence+Manufacturing'", proposing to promote the establishment of a chief data officer system for enterprises, continuously promote the maturity of data management capabilities and the implementation of national standards, and consolidate the foundation of enterprise data governance. This is not the first heavyweight document mentioning a Chief Data Officer (CDO). In recent years, several documents such as the "Special Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of Smart Supply Chain" have encouraged the establishment of a Chief Data Officer system, gradually bringing this group into the spotlight. As the "new C-position" of the digital age, the Chief Data Officer is the "helmsman" of digital assets, responsible for managing and utilizing enterprise data assets, fully tapping into data value, driving business innovation and transformation. According to incomplete statistics, over 160 cities across the country have established a government chief data officer system. ”Han Xiao, an associate professor at the School of Public Administration at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China who has been researching data governance for a long time, told Science and Technology Daily reporters that in recent years, government departments and enterprises have been rapidly increasing their attention to Chief Data Officers, showing a development trend from pilot exploration to comprehensive promotion. What is a Chief Data Officer? What challenges are they facing? What are the future development prospects? The reporter interviewed multiple experts. In 2019, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China listed data as a production factor alongside labor, capital, land, knowledge, technology, and management for the first time. The strategic value of data has been raised to unprecedented heights, and the Chief Data Officer, who can turn "numbers" into gold, has also entered people's vision. In the eyes of a chief data officer, data that may seem mundane to the average person is actually a dormant digital treasure trove. Yang Ping, Chief Data Officer of Shuzu Technology (Nanjing) Company, said that even an ordinary shopping invoice can uncover new value. The information on enterprise shopping invoices displays who and who made what transactions at what time, accumulating to form a 'digital footprint' of the enterprise's operating conditions. Yang Ping told reporters that by analyzing the massive data contained in enterprise shopping invoices, not only can we understand the development trend of the enterprise, but we can also analyze the relevant industry situation. By analyzing a large amount of invoice data, Shuzu Technology has listed 36 data products in two categories on the Jiangsu Provincial Data Exchange. One type of product is data application products, which can provide accurate profiling of related enterprises, dynamic evaluation of enterprise operation, risk warning and other services. Just like a 'physical examination form', the health of the enterprise is clear at a glance. ”Yang Ping introduced that in the past, the pre loan investigation of banks needed to send special personnel to visit enterprises for verification, which usually took 5 to 10 days; Nowadays, through data products, it only takes 5 to 10 minutes to understand the situation of enterprises, providing strong support for banks to efficiently and dynamically evaluate enterprises. The Chief Data Officer is a product of the digital age and a key role in adapting to the emergence of digital governments, data factor markets, and other industries. ”Wang Guangsheng, President of the Greater China Region of the International Data Management Association (DAMA), told reporters that its core functions can be summarized into three aspects - managing data well, transforming well, and building a team, including data infrastructure construction, data governance and quality management, data development and utilization and value realization, and compliance management of data security and artificial intelligence. Wang Guangsheng stated that a competent Chief Data Officer can not only turn data into a "golden and silver mountain" through overall management and development, but also plan digital strategies to keep their organization at the forefront of digital transformation and development. Globally, developed Western countries represented by the United States have taken the lead in exploring the Chief Data Officer system. In 2002, First Capital Corporation of the United States first set up the position of Chief Data Officer, which was later promoted in enterprises with strong dependence on data such as finance, e-commerce and the Internet. In 2009, Colorado established its first government chief data officer, and various government departments followed suit. At present, major developed countries in the world such as the United Kingdom, France, Canada, etc. have set up Chief Data Officer positions in central and local governments. The rise of the Chief Data Officer system in China is closely related to the national big data strategy and the market-oriented allocation reform of data elements. ”Han Xiao said that establishing a Chief Data Officer is not only an institutional innovation that conforms to the development of the digital age, but also an important measure in response to the construction of "Digital China". In 2018, the former China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission issued the "Guidelines for Data Governance of Banking and Financial Institutions", which for the first time explicitly stated the establishment of a Chief Data Officer in a national level document. In January 2025, the National Development and Reform Commission and six other departments issued the "Implementation Plan for Improving Data Circulation Security Governance and Better Promoting the Marketization and Value of Data Elements", which encourages enterprises and institutions to establish Chief Data Officers, strengthen data governance and data development and utilization. In March 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and eight other departments issued the "Special Action Plan for Accelerating the Development of Smart Supply Chain", which also explicitly encourages the establishment of a Chief Supply Chain Officer and Chief Data Officer system. Establishing a Chief Data Officer system has become an important pivot to leverage the high-quality development of the digital economy and enhance the modernization level of national governance. ”Han Xiao said that starting from 2023, the establishment of China's Chief Data Officer system will enter a rapid development stage. Our state-owned enterprises, institutions, and local governments have successively established the position of Chief Data Officer, and the Chief Data Officer system has blossomed in multiple places. The road to fulfilling the duties of a Chief Data Officer is not as simple as imagined, as the "new officer" faces multiple challenges upon taking office. The "2023 China Chief Data Officer Survey" released by PwC shows that the penetration rate of Chief Data Officers or similar management positions in China is only 1.3%, far below the global level of 27%; More than 1/4 of the respondents reported that their company's data work is not progressing smoothly, facing challenges such as inadequate operational mechanisms, unclear division of responsibilities and rights between departments, and unclear overall data strategies and goals. Due to unclear functional positioning and responsibilities, the role of the 'C-position' has not been effectively utilized. ”According to Huang Wanzhong, CEO of Kunlun Data (Chengdu) Technology Co., Ltd., although the position of Chief Data Officer starts with "C", the vast majority of them are not among the top executives of the company. Many Chief Data Officer positions are placed under the traditional Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in the organizational structure. This makes it difficult for them to coordinate and mobilize organizational resources on one hand, and on the other hand, their job responsibilities are not clear enough. Zheng Baowei, founder of Enhe Data, also holds the same view. He said, 'Chief data officers managed by CIOs or CTOs are in an awkward situation, limited by their level and status, with high communication costs between departments, and sometimes encountering many obstacles in their work.'. ”Currently, many chief data officers find it difficult to manage a systematic team of digital talents, and they themselves hold part-time positions. As a veteran in the field of data, Huang Wanzhong served as the Chief Data Officer of several companies during the era when big data technology was booming. When he served as the Chief Data Officer at Digital China, his team consisted of over 2000 people. Huang Wanzhong said that most chief data officers are not so "lucky" and have not mastered a systematic data management team, making it difficult to realize their ideal value. Research shows that the phenomenon of part-time work among the current group of government chief data officers in China is widespread, and their profile is mainly male, with an average age concentrated in the range of 56-60 years old. In the context of part-time work, frequent turnover of managers is not conducive to the continuous promotion of data management work, and may trigger problems such as short termism, face saving projects, and fragmented data management, "said Han Xiao. In terms of systems, Chief Data Officers also face the dilemma of limited channels for qualification certification. The reporter found that currently, the certification of Chief Data Officers in the market is mainly based on "social certification" conducted by non-governmental organizations, such as training and certification by relevant associations and alliance organizations. Not long ago, Zheng Baowei obtained the first batch of certified senior big data engineer titles from the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. He told reporters, "This is the first time that Beijing has conducted senior professional title qualification certification for big data talents. Currently, there is no national level 'Chief Data Officer' qualification certification channel, and various regions are exploring and trying talent certification for big data majors." Yang Ping looked forward to the "official certification" and said, "With the development of the digital economy, more and more talents will be engaged in data management. We hope that government departments or universities can organize training and certification for the position of Chief Data Officer and standardize professional ratings." With the continuous promotion of market-oriented value of data elements and the entry of digital reform into the deep water zone, the demand for talent for Chief Data Officers is still increasing. The "Report on the Development of Digital Economy Talents in China (2025)" points out that by the end of 2024, the total number of digital economy talents in China has reached 32.86 million, but the demand for talents is about 65 million, with a gap of over 32 million. A Chief Data Officer with a combination of technical and managerial abilities is even more difficult to find. Zheng Baowei predicts that the number of chief data officers in China may be less than 10000, and the market demand is at least several hundred thousand. Currently, the penetration rate of digital transformation in small and medium-sized enterprises in China is about 17%, which means there is still 83% of the digital business market space. As a sunrise industry, the data industry will usher in a period of large-scale development in the next 2 to 3 years, becoming a new "trend" of the times. To transform data assets into economic value, there is an urgent need for more Chief Data Officer talents with advanced digital thinking and comprehensive data governance capabilities. In early January of this year, the first "embodied intelligent dataset" in China was listed and completed trading on the Jiangsu Provincial Data Exchange, allowing more talents to gather in the "C-position". The first flower to fall in Jiangsu at the beginning of the year is not accidental. Jiangsu Province regards the Chief Data Officer system as an important lever to promote data element governance and urban digital transformation, "said Xia Yikun, a professor at the Data Management Innovation Research Center of Nanjing University. The" Work Manual for Implementing the Regulations on Government Data Sharing in Jiangsu Province "defines the division of responsibilities for chief data officers in various departments. At present, a chief data officer team system covering various government business lines has been established in Nanjing, Suzhou, and Wuxi. Among them, Suzhou has established a Chief Data Officer network covering three levels: city, district, and town. The Chief Data Officer has the "veto power" of information technology projects. Having 'job' and 'power' is essential for the Chief Data Officer to play a greater role and showcase their skills in daily work. ”Xia Yikun said that Jiangsu Province has issued specific documents and promoted the formation of a systematic talent team, providing reference experience for other places to promote the establishment of a chief data officer system. In addition to improving the talent pool system, it is also necessary to clarify the functions and responsibilities of the Chief Data Officer. Huang Wanzhong suggested that the national level issue guidance to clarify the necessity and basic responsibilities of establishing a Chief Data Officer in large state-owned enterprises, key industries, and local governments. This will help build an institutional environment that encourages innovation and ensures security. According to the data, countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have clearly defined the responsibilities and tasks of government chief data officers through laws. For example, the United States has passed the Evidence Based Decision Making Fundamentals Act, which clearly defines the qualifications, powers, scope of responsibilities, core competencies, and organizational structure of the Chief Data Officer through legislation. At the same time, the US Congress has passed laws specifying that the Chief Data Officer of the federal government should receive training in various fields such as data collection, protection, and utilization, and that training in data talent and skills should be included in the national action plan. At present, our country