Original Title: Several Policies on Further Supporting the National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Pilot Zone, the National Biopharmaceutical Technology Innovation Center, and the National Third-Generation Semiconductor Technology Innovation Center (Suzhou)

I. Supporting Regional Collaborative Innovation. Support the Suzhou Industrial Park in establishing the core zone of the Suzhou National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Pilot Zone, and encourage other county-level cities (districts) to leverage their local resource endowments to build a number of specialized AI industrial clusters, thereby fostering an AI industrial development landscape characterized by distinct features and complementary strengths.We will strengthen city-wide coordination and support the “Two Centers” in collaborating with county-level cities (districts) on initiatives such as jointly establishing industrialization bases and setting up incubation funds, working together to provide essential resources—including land and capital—for industrial projects. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau; People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

II. Support the Planning and Construction of Innovation Platforms. Encourage the establishment of various platforms, including key laboratories, technology innovation centers, industrial innovation centers, manufacturing innovation centers, and new R&D institutions, and provide funding in accordance with corresponding policies. For approved National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Open Innovation Platforms, performance-based subsidies of up to 10 million yuan will be granted based on operational outcomes. Vigorously plan and deploy major scientific and technological infrastructure and large-scale scientific facilities, encourage the participation of social capital in their construction, and provide support on a case-by-case basis.(Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau; People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

III. Supporting the Attraction and Cultivation of Innovation Entities. Support the attraction and establishment of major projects; for those compliant with the city’s relevant industrial policies, implement funding in accordance with corresponding policies; for particularly significant projects, provide support on a case-by-case basis. Vigorously cultivate enterprises in artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and third-generation semiconductors; for those recognized as high-tech enterprises, provincial-level or higher “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises, municipal unicorn cultivation enterprises, or listed companies, provide funding in accordance with corresponding policies.(Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, and People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

IV. Support for Research and Development of Key Core Technologies. A special fund for key core technology R&D will be established to provide up to 10 million yuan in support for projects undertaken by various innovation entities, including cutting-edge technology research, breakthroughs in “chokepoint” technologies, and major technology commercialization initiatives. For major “open-call” projects organized and implemented by the “Two Centers” that fill domestic gaps and support the leapfrog development of strategic emerging industries, the municipal and district governments will provide support on a 1:1 matching basis.(Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

V. Support for the Introduction of High-End Talent Teams. Support the introduction of talent through diverse forms such as full-time employment, part-time positions, and contractual advisory roles. Provide preferential treatment in application requirements and selection/recognition for introduced leading innovation and entrepreneurship talents and teams; for particularly significant teams, support will be provided on a case-by-case basis. Grant the “Two Centers” quotas for talent recommendations; talent projects recommended by them that meet the criteria after evaluation may be directly approved for funding.For introduced high-end and urgently needed talent, facilitate procedures related to professional title evaluation and entry/exit. (Responsible Units: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department (Talent Office), Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Municipal Public Security Bureau, and People’s Governments of all county-level cities (districts) <Administrative Committees>)

VI. Support the Construction of Public Technology Service Platforms. Encourage the establishment of public technology service platforms focused on key areas such as technology R&D and technology transfer. Newly established platforms will receive support of up to 20 million yuan, equivalent to 20% of the total construction investment. Encourage platforms to open up and share resources externally; based on annual service performance, provide an annual performance subsidy of up to 5 million yuan.Support the construction of proof-of-concept centers to provide technical feasibility and commercialization validation services for laboratory outcomes. Newly established proof-of-concept centers will receive support of up to 2 million yuan, equivalent to 20% of the total construction investment. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

VII. Support the Development of Application Demonstration Scenarios. Support the development of a batch of demonstration projects for innovative AI application scenarios, providing up to 2 million yuan in support, equivalent to 20% of the total investment in the AI technology, products, and services components of each project. Accelerate scenario innovation, explore the promotion and application of AI technologies within specific regions, and establish a number of AI application scenario demonstration zones. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau; People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

VIII. Support the Promotion and Application of Innovative Products. Strengthen the promotion and application of innovative products such as the first-of-its-kind major equipment, first-batch critical materials, and first-version software. For first-of-its-kind equipment and key components recognized by Suzhou City or higher-level authorities, provide a reward of up to 10 million yuan, equivalent to 10%–30% of the unit sales price of the product; for products falling within the scope of medical devices and pharmaceutical manufacturing, this amount is increased by 20%.For first-version industrial software and artificial intelligence software recognized by Jiangsu Province or higher-level authorities, a reward of up to 2 million yuan will be granted, equivalent to 10% to 20% of the annual total sales. (Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

IX. Strengthening Financial and Capital Support. Establish the Suzhou Industrial Innovation Cluster Development Fund to create a “city-county (district)” equity investment linkage model. Increase direct investment by state-owned capital, focusing on seed-stage and start-up projects, to accelerate the transformation of key core technologies into scientific and technological achievements. Expand the coverage of first-time loans, credit-based loans, and intellectual property pledge loans for innovative enterprises, and guide banks to develop specialized credit products and innovative loan approval models.Provide subsidies of up to 500,000 yuan and 1,000,000 yuan, respectively, for enterprises’ expenditures on science and technology insurance premiums and interest on science and technology loans. Provide up to 10,000,000 yuan in science and technology credit risk compensation for losses incurred by banks in issuing science and technology loans. (Responsible Units: Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Suzhou Venture Capital Group, and People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

X. Support the Development of an Industrial Innovation Ecosystem. Local enterprises using the Suzhou Computing Power Platform will receive an annual subsidy of up to 2 million yuan, equivalent to 20% of their actual AI computing power expenses. Promote the construction of intellectual property operation centers and guide innovation entities to engage in high-value patent cultivation, patent navigation, and patent pool management. Support the hosting of high-level, international, and national industrial expositions, forums, and competitions, providing a one-time subsidy of up to 1 million yuan, equivalent to 20% of the event’s hosting costs.(Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, Big Data Group, and People’s Governments <Administrative Committees> of all county-level cities (districts))

This policy shall take effect upon issuance and remain valid for three years. The Suzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, in conjunction with relevant departments, shall be responsible for its interpretation. Where the policies stipulated in this document are similar to or duplicate those in other relevant policy documents, the principle of “choosing the more favorable option without duplication” shall apply.