Enterprises are the most critical and dynamic foundation of Wuxi’s science and technology innovation ecosystem. This Action Plan has been formulated to further strengthen the role of enterprises as the primary drivers of scientific and technological innovation, accelerate the enhancement of their leadership in innovation and core competitiveness, and continuously improve the overall effectiveness of the regional innovation system.

I. General Requirements

(1) Guiding Principles

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and earnestly carry out General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on scientific and technological innovation as well as his important speeches and instructions regarding Jiangsu’s work.we will adhere to the combination of an effective market and a capable government. Guided by the development of the “465” modern industrial clusters, and with the enhancement of enterprises’ vitality and capacity for scientific and technological innovation as the main focus, we will thoroughly carry out the special campaign to strengthen the leading role of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation. We will comprehensively enhance enterprises’ leading role in technological innovation decision-making, R&D investment, scientific research organization, and the transformation of research outcomes; create a favorable environment that supports enterprise innovation and development in all aspects; drive the aggregation of various innovation factors toward enterprises; and provide strong support for building a first-class domestic hub for industrial scientific and technological innovation with international influence.

(2) Development Goals

We will continuously promote enterprises to truly become the originators of technological innovation, the investors in R&D funding, the organizers of scientific research efforts, the implementers of technology transfer, and the integrators of innovation factors. Enterprises of all types will achieve significant results in leading high-quality development through scientific and technological innovation. By 2027, the institutional mechanisms supporting enterprise-led scientific and technological innovation will be fundamentally improved; the leading role of enterprises in innovation will be further consolidated; the capacity to integrate innovation resources will be continuously strengthened; the efficient collaborative innovation system will be further refined; and the overall effectiveness of regional innovation will be significantly enhanced.

1. The pool of science and technology innovation enterprises will continue to expand. By 2027, 200 vice presidents of science and technology will be recruited; 800 new innovation and entrepreneurship talents (teams) will be added; 40,000 new science and technology enterprises will be attracted and established; the number of science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) evaluated and included in the database will reach 20,000, and the number of high-tech enterprises within their validity period will reach 10,000; 1,600 new provincial-level specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs will be added, along with 320 new national-level specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giant” enterprises.

2. The quality and efficiency of science and technology innovation infrastructure will be significantly enhanced. By 2027, we will add over 3 million square meters of fully functional incubation facilities, establish 200 municipal-level or higher maker spaces and technology enterprise incubators, and 20 provincial-level or higher technology enterprise incubators, and complete the construction of 10 landmark science and technology innovation complexes.

3. Investment in scientific and technological innovation will steadily increase. By 2027, total R&D investment as a percentage of GDP will reach 4%; corporate R&D expenditure will account for over 90% of total R&D investment; R&D expenditure by large-scale industrial enterprises will reach 2% of their main business revenue; funding for basic research will account for over 4% of total R&D expenditure; and the R&D intensity of high-tech manufacturing enterprises will reach over 4%.

4. The capacity to generate technological innovations will gradually increase. By 2027, 40 municipal-level or higher enterprise key laboratories and 15 municipal-level technology innovation centers will be established; 60 enterprise-led innovation consortia and 20 enterprise joint innovation centers will be formed.We will establish 10 new R&D institutions and add 2,000 enterprise R&D institutions at the municipal level or above. R&D institutions will achieve near-universal coverage among high-tech enterprises above designated size and provincial-level or higher "specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative" enterprises, with 70% of all industrial enterprises above designated size in the city generally establishing R&D institutions. We will build 100 municipal-level or higher public science and technology service platforms, achieving full coverage of public technology service platforms in key industrial parks and key industrial chains.

5. The output of innovation achievements will significantly improve. By 2027, enterprises of all types will have led the breakthrough of more than 500 key core technologies, and more than 100 major innovation achievements will have received awards at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. Enterprises will have led or participated in the formulation or revision of more than 100 international, national, and industry standards, and the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 registered enterprises will reach 640.

II. Key Tasks

(1) Implement the Project to Cultivate and Attract Key Entities for Scientific and Technological Innovation

1. Expand the ranks of science and technology enterprises. Focus on cultivating high-tech enterprises; support local enterprises in increasing R&D investment, strengthening talent recruitment, filing intellectual property applications, expanding high-value revenue streams, and improving science and technology management to continuously enhance their innovation capabilities and core competitiveness, thereby accelerating their growth into high-tech enterprises;Accelerate the cultivation of municipal “Chu Ying” (Rising Star), “Deng Ling” (Gazelle), and “Pre-Unicorn” enterprises to form a talent pipeline for high-tech enterprises; focus on industrial development, adhere to a quality-oriented approach, fully leverage the functions of comprehensive platforms such as “Science and Technology Innovation Enclaves,” precisely connect with regions rich in innovation resources, and continuously intensify efforts to attract technology enterprises, particularly high-tech enterprises.We will jointly foster “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” (SRUI) enterprises, focusing on the “465” modern industrial clusters. In fields such as integrated circuits, biomedicine, high-end equipment, and artificial intelligence, we will cultivate a cohort of SRUI enterprises and provide support through the “Three Empowerments” special campaign—digital empowerment, intelligence empowerment through scientific and technological achievements, and value-added empowerment through quality standards and branding. We will establish and improve a full-lifecycle service management system for SRUI enterprises, continuously promote the enhancement of innovation capabilities among technology enterprises, and pursue a development path characterized by specialization, refinement, uniqueness, and innovation.Strengthen the foundation of science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by establishing a citywide database of technology enterprises and actively guiding eligible enterprises to participate in the national evaluation of science and technology-based SMEs; increase support for these enterprises, encourage them to participate in science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, and undertake projects under the city’s “Taihu Light” Science and Technology R&D Program.By 2027, the number of technology-based SMEs included in the evaluation database will reach 20,000, and the number of high-tech enterprises with valid certifications will reach 10,000; 1,600 new provincial-level specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs and 320 new national-level specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giant” enterprises will be added.[Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Taxation Bureau, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, People’s Governments of all cities (counties) and districts, and the Wuxi Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee. Wherever the People’s Governments of all cities (counties) and districts and the Wuxi Economic and Technological Development Zone Management Committee are involved, they will not be listed repeatedly hereinafter.]

2. Strengthen the recruitment of project talent. Deepen the implementation of the “Taihu Talent Plan” series of policies and align with national and provincial key talent development programs. Through activities such as high-level talent exchange conferences, science and technology cooperation forums, and various innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, intensify efforts to recruit and cultivate various types of talent, including leading scientific and technological figures and innovation and entrepreneurship talent (teams).Encourage two-way talent mobility between enterprises and universities/research institutions. Support personnel from universities and research institutions in taking on concurrent roles as Vice Presidents of Science and Technology at Wuxi-based enterprises to provide scientific and technological innovation services, with part-time employment and remuneration permitted in accordance with regulations. Support enterprises in establishing research assistant positions through various science and technology programs and innovation base platforms to more actively recruit talent from universities and research institutions into corporate R&D teams.Support universities and research institutes in Wuxi to establish a certain proportion of flexible positions, recruiting entrepreneurs and corporate science and technology personnel with practical innovation experience to serve as industry professors engaged in part-time teaching and research. Coordinate and optimize the city’s science and technology and investment promotion resources to establish a science and technology investment promotion mechanism and efficient operational model featuring city-district linkage and interdepartmental collaboration, thereby promoting the “dual recruitment” of both investment and talent.Build a high-caliber science and technology investment promotion team that understands science and technology, industry, and finance, and is skilled in project negotiations, event organization, and service delivery. By 2027, attract 800 high-level talents (or teams) possessing advanced core technologies to settle in Wuxi, and recruit 200 vice presidents of science and technology to provide innovation and technology services. Using various science and technology innovation platforms as the main venues, attract and establish more than 10,000 new technology-based enterprises annually.(Responsible Units: Municipal Party Committee Talent Office, Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Commerce Bureau)

3. Enhance the effectiveness of enterprise technology transfer and commercialization. Deepen a new round of industry-university-research cooperation with key domestic and international universities and research institutions, integrate with their technology transfer and commercialization systems, establish a project database for scientific and technological achievements, and regularly organize industry-university-research exchange activities such as the “100 Universities Visit Wuxi” and “10,000 Enterprises Visit Research Institutions” initiatives. These efforts will bridge the gap between supply and demand, facilitating enterprises’ adoption of scientific and technological achievements from universities and research institutions for local commercialization and industrialization in Wuxi.Deepen cooperation with major research institutes based in Wuxi, leverage the advantages of the city’s concentration of innovation resources from these institutions, and vigorously develop the “institute economy.” Support research institutes and enterprises in establishing market-oriented, professionally operated technology transfer agencies. By jointly building major science and technology innovation platforms with Wuxi enterprises and engaging in industry-university-research collaboration, we will effectively promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements and actively facilitate the implementation of research institute projects in Wuxi.Explore a mechanism for major innovation platforms and new R&D institutions to “generate results along the way and facilitate on-site transformation.” Relying on the development of the Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute, focus on future industries such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, as well as key sectors including integrated circuits, biomedicine, and aerospace. Each year, identify 100 technology transfer projects with high technical barriers and promising market prospects for incubation, and facilitate the establishment of 50 “hard technology” enterprises.Accelerate the commercialization and industrialization of achievements generated by science and technology programs at all levels within enterprises. Municipal-level science and technology programs will progressively increase both the scale and number of support provided to enterprise-led projects focused on the commercialization and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements. (Responsible Units: Municipal Party Committee Talent Office, Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute)

(2) Implement the Project to Enhance the Quality and Efficiency of Science and Technology Innovation Platforms

4. Create high-quality science and technology innovation spaces. Focusing on the “465” modern industrial clusters and the “3010” industrial chains, and guided by the principles of upgrading existing facilities, optimizing new developments, and prioritizing quality, we will fully advance the expansion, upgrading, and enhanced efficiency of the city’s science and technology innovation platforms in accordance with the “Five-Haves” criteria: a leading industry, an innovation platform, an investment fund, a professional team, and supporting facilities.Support municipal state-owned enterprises in taking the lead and playing a central role in the construction and renovation of major city-wide science and technology innovation facilities. Fully mobilize social forces such as leading enterprises and renowned incubators to accelerate the development of a new generation of science and technology innovation facilities characterized by diversified investment entities, varied forms and types, professional management and operations, specialized industrial sectors, and international resource allocation.We will support all districts and regions in integrating efforts with industrial park renovations and “industrial verticalization” urban renewal initiatives. Through channels such as negotiated reclamation, encouraged transfer, and agreed-upon exchanges, we will reclaim and consolidate underutilized and idle factory and building resources to extract “incremental value” from “existing space.” By 2027, we aim to add more than 3 million square meters of fully functional incubation facilities.(Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission)

5. Build Branded Incubation Facilities. To address the needs of startups at different stages of development, we will improve the integrated startup incubation chain comprising “co-working spaces—incubators—accelerators—science and technology innovation complexes.”Focusing on newly constructed and operational science and technology innovation facilities, and centering on the city’s future industries such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, third-generation semiconductors, and synthetic biology, we will strengthen leadership from professional teams, support from specialized platforms, and empowerment from professional funds. We will support leading technology enterprises, universities and research institutes, investment institutions, and other entities in building a batch of benchmark-level makerspaces and incubators characterized by high specialization, effective incubation outcomes, significant industrial driving force, and strong exemplary leadership.Support various development zones, science and technology new towns, and innovation districts with solid science and technology industry foundations to leverage their unique resource endowments and construct, to high standards, a series of science and technology innovation complexes that organically integrate functions such as innovation, entrepreneurship, industry, culture, and community. By 2027, the city aims to add 200 municipal-level or higher co-working spaces and technology enterprise incubators, 20 provincial-level or higher technology enterprise incubators, and complete the construction of 10 landmark science and technology innovation complexes.(Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission)

6. Enhance Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation and Nurturing Capabilities. Coordinate the planning and construction of science and technology innovation facilities and innovation and entrepreneurship platforms. Based on the industrial characteristics of these facilities and targeting key links in industrial technology chains, establish categorized, physically operational public technology service platforms—such as proof-of-concept centers and public technical service platforms—to provide enterprises with services including proof-of-concept, R&D design, engineering testing, inspection and testing, and technology transfer and commercialization.Cultivate and attract integrated service providers and specialized service providers for science and technology innovation hubs, and build specialized teams in industrial investment promotion, financial investment, capital operations, and management consulting. Develop standardized and customized service catalogs for science and technology innovation hubs to provide enterprises with systematic, one-stop startup services, including entrepreneurial guidance, resource matching, market expansion, intellectual property support, investment and financing, and human resources. This will ensure the orderly transition among the three major service functions—innovation incubation, startup incubation, and industrial incubation—thereby reducing the costs and risks associated with enterprise startup.By 2027, the city’s science and technology innovation hubs will have established 50 public technology service platforms and cultivated more than 10 high-level specialized operational teams. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)

(3) Implement the Innovation Consortium Construction Project

7. Focus on building ecosystem-based innovation consortia.Led by leading technology enterprises or anchor enterprises within each industrial chain, these consortia will focus on the core objective of enhancing the quality and driving the leapfrog development of industrial chains. Key sectors include integrated circuit packaging and testing, wafer manufacturing; high-performance medical imaging in biomedicine; photovoltaics, wind energy, hydrogen energy, and new energy storage in the new energy sector; as well as special steel new materials and high-tech vessels. Adhering to the market-oriented principle of “risk-sharing and profit-sharing,” these consortia will integrate various innovation resources—including universities, research institutes,innovation platforms, and upstream and downstream enterprises along the industrial chain to form ecosystem-based innovation consortia, thereby driving the transformation of corporate innovation models from single-entity to multi-entity structures. By jointly addressing the common needs of enterprises within the chain, deepening the integration of innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains, serving ecosystem development, and achieving a leading and driving role, these consortia will promote the high-quality development and high-level leap of key industries.Science and technology innovation platforms that meet the criteria for ecosystem-based innovation consortia will receive up to 10 million yuan in construction funding. Upon completion of construction tasks, they may be eligible for up to 5 million yuan in follow-up support based on performance evaluation results. By 2027, we aim to cultivate and establish more than 10 ecosystem-based innovation consortia, achieving full coverage of the city’s landmark and competitive industries. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

8. Strive to strengthen mission-oriented innovation consortia. Led by key innovative enterprises in each industrial chain, these consortia will focus on major national and provincial scientific and technological strategic breakthrough goals. With a primary focus on fields such as power devices for integrated circuits, core sensors for the Internet of Things, industrial software, high-end equipment, core components for new energy vehicles, and new materials, they will select innovative forces—including universities, research institutes, and upstream and downstream enterprises—to form mission-oriented innovation consortia. This will drive enterprises to shift from short-term breakthrough-oriented research and development to medium- and long-term leadership-oriented research and development.By closely monitoring the challenges and bottlenecks in the innovative development of industrial clusters, and through organized joint research efforts, we will resolve key common technical challenges and overcome the “bottlenecks” constraining the development of modern industries, thereby enhancing the core competitiveness of industrial innovation clusters. Joint research projects organized and implemented by mission-oriented innovation consortia will receive funding support of up to 5 million yuan. For those approved to undertake major national or provincial projects, support will be provided in accordance with requirements, not exceeding 2 million yuan.By 2027, cultivate and establish more than 30 mission-oriented innovation consortia. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

9. Comprehensive Planning of Platform-Based Innovation Consortia. Led by key R&D and innovation platforms in various sectors, these consortia will focus on addressing the needs for breakthroughs in key generic and cutting-edge technologies across industrial chains. Prioritizing fields such as smart manufacturing, power generation and transmission equipment, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology, they will bring together universities, research institutes, and industry enterprises to form platform-based innovation consortia, thereby driving enterprises to transition from closed, self-contained R&D to open, collaborative R&D.Taking into account the innovation and development needs of enterprises at different levels, we will coordinate innovation resources, promote joint construction and sharing, and deepen collaboration among industry, academia, research institutions, and end-users to provide generic technological support and services for technological innovation in modern industrial clusters. Platform-based innovation consortia will receive construction support in accordance with relevant policies and, based on performance evaluation results, will be incorporated into the planning for major innovation platforms. By 2027, we aim to cultivate and establish more than 20 platform-based innovation consortia.(Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

(IV) Implement the Major Platforms Empowering Enterprise Innovation Project

10. Support enterprises in participating in the new laboratory construction system. Targeting international high-tech frontiers and addressing the innovation needs of the city’s “465” modern industrial clusters, we will support enterprises in participating in the construction of national and provincial laboratories through R&D cooperation, joint platform development, and the sharing of research outcomes, with the goal of conducting applied basic research and research on key and generic technologies to enhance industry technical standards and corporate independent innovation capabilities;In line with the city’s key industrial and regional development needs, and focusing on major directions in critical fields such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, engineering, energy, materials, marine science, and interdisciplinary research, we will establish municipal-level enterprise key laboratories based on enterprise operations. We will encourage these municipal-level enterprise key laboratories to lead or participate in the construction and restructuring of national and provincial key laboratories, gradually forming a structurally optimized system of enterprise key laboratories. This will significantly enhance enterprises’ independent innovation capabilities and the international competitiveness of industries, and promote enterprises to become the main drivers of technological innovation;Guided by strategic science and technology innovation platforms and major research tasks in Wuxi, establish joint funds with provincial and municipal natural science foundations to support the integration of the municipal laboratory system into the city’s research task system. Organize municipal key research projects in relevant fields, conduct basic and applied basic research, and promote the application of research outcomes.By 2027, with enterprises as the leading entities, establish 40 municipal-level enterprise key laboratories; facilitate the restructuring of 6 provincial key laboratories in fields such as new materials, new energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, and biomedicine; and aim to establish 5 or more provincial key laboratories in fields including integrated circuits, new energy, quantum technology, hydrogen energy, and new energy storage.(Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute)

11. Improve the tiered cultivation system for enterprise R&D institutions. Deepen the enterprise-led development mechanism for provincial-level and above industrial innovation centers, technology innovation centers, and manufacturing innovation centers. Establish municipal-level technology innovation centers focused on key sectors such as next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, new materials, and synthetic biology. Drive the transfer, transformation, and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements through key technology R&D and efficient industry-academia-research collaboration.Guide enterprises to establish sound mechanisms for organizing technological R&D, product innovation, and the transformation of scientific and technological achievements based on market demand and long-term development, and significantly increase the proportion of large-scale industrial enterprises that establish R&D institutions. Establish a number of national and provincial engineering (technology) research centers within leading enterprises in the industry, support enterprises in conducting engineering research on technological achievements, and strengthen the work of nationally recognized enterprise technology centers and technological innovation demonstration enterprises.By 2027, we aim to establish 3 innovation centers at the provincial level or above and 15 municipal-level technology innovation centers,establish 500 new municipal-level or higher enterprise R&D institutions annually, including engineering research centers, enterprise technology centers, and engineering technology research centers; promote the establishment of provincial-level or higher innovation centers by 6 national-level engineering technology research centers; ensure that 70% of the city’s industrial enterprises above designated size have established R&D platforms (currently 50%); and achieve dynamic full coverage of engineering technology research centers for leading science and technology enterprises, as well as dynamic full coverage of technology centers for “Science and Technology Little Giants” and “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” (SRUI) “Little Giant” enterprises.(Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute)

12. Promote the role of new-type R&D institutions in empowering enterprise innovation and development. Leverage the institutional and mechanism innovation advantages of new-type R&D institutions to empower the development of technology-based enterprises through organized industrial innovation. Support leading technology enterprises in jointly establishing a batch of new-type R&D institutions with universities and research institutes, actively exploring new approaches in research organization models, talent recruitment, and industrial incubation, and promoting the seamless development of the innovation chain: from source technology innovation—through pilot-scale testing and refinement of laboratory results—to the incubation and value enhancement of applied technologies;Leverage the role of the Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute as a “testing ground” for science and technology system reform. Support enterprises in tackling industrial technology challenges through projects such as preliminary research on leading-edge technologies and a combination of grants and investment. Encourage leading enterprises to jointly establish enterprise-industry innovation centers with the Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute. By 2027, systematically establish 10 new-type R&D institutions and 20 enterprise-industry innovation centers. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute)

13. Improve technology innovation service platforms for enterprises. Addressing industry-specific technology innovation needs, promote the integration of science and technology resources and the leveraging of complementary strengths to optimize and consolidate a group of specialized technology innovation service platforms. Cultivate a cohort of specialized, socialized, and networked exemplary science and technology intermediary service agencies. Accelerate the development of a technology transaction market system, a science and technology startup incubation network, and mechanisms to accelerate the growth of technology-based enterprises.Explore mechanisms—such as the procurement of public services—to establish sound systems that ensure the effective operation of technology innovation service platforms, thereby enabling public service platforms to provide enterprises with high-quality support in areas such as the sharing of scientific and technological resources, public technical services, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Increase the openness of scientific instruments and scientific and technological resources to enterprises; support enterprises in participating in the construction of specialized, market-oriented technical service platforms for R&D, design, testing, and inspection; and incorporate enterprise service performance into the evaluation and assessment indicators for public science and technology service platforms.By 2027, establish a cumulative total of more than 100 municipal-level or higher science and technology public service platforms, achieving full coverage of public technical service platforms for key industrial chains within the “465” modern industrial clusters. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute)

(5) Implement the Innovation Ecosystem Capacity Enhancement Project

14. Strengthen the protection and utilization of scientific and technological innovation achievements. Intensify judicial protection of intellectual property rights, implement the “three-in-one” adjudication mechanism for intellectual property cases, and fully enforce relevant provisions on punitive damages for intellectual property infringement. Implement the Action Plan for Intellectual Property-Driven Enterprises to support the commercialization of core patents held by intellectual property-intensive enterprises, and enhance intellectual property operations and the implementation of patent outcomes across industrial chain segments. Implement the Patent Navigation Pilot Project to provide patent analysis, mining, and early warning services for industries and key enterprises, thereby supporting industrial innovation and development.Establish industrial intellectual property alliances centered on “chain-leading” enterprises and industry leaders, with the participation of relevant research institutions and upstream and downstream enterprises. Encourage enterprises to strengthen the development of standard-essential patents, take the lead in and participate in the formulation and revision of international, national, and industry technical standards, and accelerate the capture of future competitive high ground.By 2027, enterprises will lead or participate in the formulation or revision of 100 new international, national, and industry technical standards, and the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 registered enterprises will reach 640. (Responsible Units: Municipal Intermediate People’s Court, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau)

15. Strengthen financial services for science and technology. Leverage the catalytic role of the Municipal Angel Investment Guidance Fund to encourage various angel investment and venture capital funds to invest early, in small-scale enterprises, and in innovation. Continue to increase the issuance of risk-compensated loans such as “Su Ke Dai” and “Xi Ke Dai,” providing credit support to technology enterprises at comprehensive financing costs significantly lower than those of comparable enterprises.Encourage banks and investment institutions to innovate technology-focused financial products and services, build an investment fund system covering the entire enterprise lifecycle, and strengthen targeted services for various types of technology enterprises. Deepen cooperation with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and Beijing Stock Exchange; enhance financing guidance; increase integrated policy support; and precisely and effectively accelerate the process of technology enterprises entering the capital market. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Taxation Bureau, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, Municipal Local Financial Regulatory Bureau)

16. Improve mechanisms for enterprise participation in science and technology innovation decision-making and implementation. Fully leverage the role of enterprises as the “primary drivers” of science and technology innovation, strengthen the identification of applied research tasks derived from enterprise and industrial practices, and improve the formation mechanisms for various demand- and problem-oriented planning projects.Organize innovative leading enterprises and relevant industry enterprises to conduct in-depth surveys and analyses of bottlenecks and obstacles in key core technologies within the “465” modern industrial clusters and “3010” key industrial chains; iteratively compile lists of key core technology research priorities; identify lists of cutting-edge and disruptive technological challenges; and establish guidelines based on these lists.Fully leverage the role of enterprises as the “lead implementers” of technological innovation, strengthen their capacity to organize and implement technological innovation, and comprehensively utilize methods such as competitive selection, open challenges, and a “horse race” system to organize and implement more than 150 enterprise-led key technology R&D tasks annually. The proportion of major science and technology R&D projects led or participated in by enterprises shall account for no less than 80% of the total number of municipal-level projects approved.By 2027, enterprises will have led the breakthrough of more than 500 key core technologies. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Industrial Innovation Research Institute)

17. Improve the management mechanism for science and technology program projects. Refine the management procedures for municipal-level science and technology programs; explore entrusting third parties to conduct evaluations and final acceptance of Wuxi municipal-level science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship funding projects; and implement a “no-application-required” service reform for science and technology policies benefiting enterprises. Reform and improve the management of municipal fiscal research funds; explore a lump-sum funding system for projects in categories such as basic research, eliminating the need to prepare project budgets and allowing project leaders to autonomously decide on the use of project funds.Expand the autonomy of project-bearing entities and scientific personnel in managing research funds, and select certain entities to pilot financial management for the acceptance and closure of research projects. Improve the mechanism for enterprise participation in project acceptance and evaluation, fully leverage the role of enterprises as “examiners and evaluators,” adhere to an application-oriented approach and practical verification, and ensure that those who use the results are the ones who evaluate them. Drive the continuous iteration and upgrading of research outcomes through market application effectiveness, enabling more results to move toward application through competition and toward maturity through application. (Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

18. Improve the system for exemption from liability for due diligence in scientific and technological innovation. Refine the mechanism for exemption from liability for errors made in the exercise of due diligence. For projects that fail to achieve expected goals due to erroneous choices in technical approaches, if the undertaking unit has fulfilled its duties of care and loyalty, and after expert review, the incurred R&D expenses are audited and determined to have been used reasonably, such expenses shall not be recovered in accordance with regulations, and relevant R&D personnel shall not be held accountable in accordance with regulations.Units or individuals determined to be eligible for error tolerance and exemption shall not be subject to adverse effects on relevant evaluations and performance reviews, nor shall their eligibility to reapply for science and technology projects supported by fiscal funds be affected; furthermore, they shall not be included in records of poor scientific research credit. (Responsible Units: Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Audit Bureau, Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission)

III. Support Measures

(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership. Designate the high-quality cultivation and development of science and technology enterprises as a “top-priority” initiative. Improve the institutional mechanisms for the coordinated management of scientific and technological innovation, actively implement relevant tasks, and foster a collaborative effort to reinforce the central role of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation. The people’s governments of all cities (counties) and districts, the Wuxi Economic and Technological Development Zone Administrative Committee, and departments such as the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, and Municipal Finance Bureau shall actively organize and cooperate to ensure the full implementation and effectiveness of all measures.

(2) Strengthen Assessment and Evaluation. Intensify assessment efforts by incorporating indicators such as the proportion of R&D expenditure to main business revenue for industrial enterprises above designated size and the establishment of enterprise R&D institutions into the high-quality development assessment criteria for cities (counties) and districts. Strengthen the tracking and evaluation of the implementation of enterprise innovation policies, using the status of policy implementation as an important reference for local supervision, incentives, and assessment.

(3) Strengthen Resource Support. Establish a sustainable and stable mechanism for fiscal investment in science and technology. Comprehensive use of relevant policies—including fiscal and tax, investment and financing, land, and environmental policies—to substantially increase support for enterprise innovation and development. Optimize the structure of fiscal investment in science and technology, continuously increase the proportion of enterprises undertaking various science and technology programs, and strengthen the deployment of various innovation bases and platforms within enterprises.

(4) Strengthen Publicity and Guidance. Make full use of various media outlets, conferences, and events at all levels to enhance publicity and interpretation of this action plan and related enterprise innovation policies. Relying on various publicity channels at all levels, effectively tell the stories of enterprise innovation and development, vigorously cultivate and promote the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, and foster an environment that values and encourages innovation.