To implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions regarding the support for the development of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative (SRDI) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to guide our city’s SMEs toward the SRDI development path, to provide stronger support for the high-quality development of SRDI enterprises, and to enhance the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains, this plan is formulated in accordance with the *Jiangsu Province Three-Year Action Plan for Cultivating SRDI Enterprises (2023–2025)* (Su Zheng Ban Fa [2023] No. 3) andthe "Yangzhou Three-Year Action Plan for Promoting the Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative Development of SMEs (2022–2024)" (Yangzhongxiao Banfa [2022] No. 8), this plan is hereby formulated.
I. General Requirements
We will steadfastly prioritize the "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" (SRUI) model as the primary direction for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With the cultivation and high-quality development of SRUI enterprises as the main objective, we will focus on the construction of the "323+1" advanced manufacturing clusters and 13 key competitive industrial chains.concentrating efforts, pooling resources, and integrating policies to establish and improve four major systems—gradual cultivation, growth empowerment, policy support, and service guarantees—for the coordinated promotion of SPEC-New enterprises. This will accelerate the transformation of SPEC-New enterprises into a key force for stabilizing growth, promoting transformation, strengthening industries, and building brands, thereby providing solid support for constructing a modern industrial system and building a city renowned for industrial innovation and science and technology.
II. Cultivation Objectives
— Expanding the pool of high-quality enterprises. We will build a matrix of high-quality manufacturing enterprises centered on SRUI enterprises, forming a development pipeline comprising at least 12 manufacturing single-champions, over 60 national-level SRUI “Little Giants,” more than 280 provincial-level SRUI SMEs, and over 1,600 innovative SMEs.
— Strengthen innovation capabilities. Promote SRUI enterprises to become a vital force in building an independent and controllable industrial innovation system. Ensure that the average R&D intensity per enterprise among provincial-level and above SRUI enterprises reaches approximately 5%, and that each possesses at least five Class I intellectual property rights. Facilitate the conclusion of approximately 100 industry-academia-research cooperation agreements, and foster approximately 30 projects each for technology transfer cooperation and the promotion and application of new products and technologies.
— More Lean Production Management. Accelerate the pace of intelligent and digital transformation among SRUI enterprises, enhance competitiveness in quality, branding, and standards, achieve a digital tool adoption rate of approximately 70% for core business operations, implement 500 intelligent upgrading and digital transformation projects, and establish 3 provincial-level or higher quality benchmarks, 10 smart manufacturing benchmarks, and 13 green manufacturing benchmarks.
— Strengthening industrial foundations and supply chains will be more robust. Leverage the key role of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises in strengthening industrial foundations and supply chains. The concentration of such enterprises in 13 key and advantageous industrial chains will reach approximately 10%. Their participation in industrial infrastructure reconstruction, research and development of key core technologies (equipment), the catalog of advanced technology and product applications in industrial infrastructure fields, and "first-of-its-kind" major equipment projects will exceed 30%. Establish 1–2 provincial-level or higher specialized industrial clusters for small and medium-sized enterprises.
——The service system has been further improved. We have established and improved an online and offline public service system for SPEC-new enterprises that features resource aggregation, diverse functions, and standardized services. This system provides SPEC-new enterprises with government affairs officers, expert think tanks, and socialized professional services. We aim to add 1 provincial-level or higher small enterprise startup base and 10 SME public service platforms.
III. Key Tasks
(1) Establish and Improve a Tiered Cultivation System
1. Expand and improve the pool of high-quality enterprises for cultivation. Prioritize selecting a group of high-tech enterprises, “Four New” enterprises (new technologies, new industries, new business models, and new formats), intellectual property-advantaged enterprises, and enterprises invested in by equity investment institutions—primarily from advanced manufacturing clusters, the 13 key competitive industrial chains, and the “Five Foundations” of industry—to enrich the cultivation pool. Conduct precise profiling of enterprises in the pool and provide targeted guidance, aiming to add more than 600 innovative SMEs.[Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Bureau of Science and Technology, Market Regulation Bureau, Financial Regulatory Bureau; People’s Governments of all counties (cities, districts), and Administrative Committees of functional zones. All subsequent items require implementation by local authorities and will not be listed separately; Completion Date: End of April 2023]
2. Accelerate the cultivation of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs. In accordance with the evaluation criteria for specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs, establish a “one file per enterprise” cultivation record for innovative SMEs, formulate improvement plans, and provide ongoing guidance and support. Cultivate 200 municipal-level specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs on a rolling basis to serve as a reserve pool for provincial-level applications. Provide application guidance to strive for the addition of more than 60 provincial-level specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs.(Responsible Department: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; Completion Date: End of September 2023)
3. Focus on cultivating national-level "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" "Little Giants" and manufacturing "Single Champions." Centering on key industrial chains such as the "Five Foundations" of industry—specifically in areas aimed at strengthening foundations and consolidating chains—we will select 100 "seed enterprises" from existing provincial-level "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" SMEs. By comparing them against national recognition standards, we will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each enterprise individually, formulate lists to "strengthen strengths" and "address weaknesses," and clarify the direction of effort.and provide “one-on-one” service guidance, aiming to add at least 2 new national manufacturing “single-champions” and at least 20 new “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” “Little Giant” enterprises. (Responsible Department: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; Completion Date: End of June 2023)
(2) Establish and Improve the Growth Empowerment System
4. Implement a special initiative to empower SRUI enterprises through scientific and technological achievements. Launch a plan to enhance the quality of enterprise R&D institutions, support SRUI enterprises in increasing R&D investment and improving research capabilities, and encourage them to independently or jointly establish key laboratories, technology innovation centers, manufacturing innovation centers, and enterprise joint innovation centers. Priority support will be given to SRUI enterprises establishing provincial-level or higher R&D institutions. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Development and Reform Commission, Human Resources and Social Security Bureau).Deepen industry-university-research collaboration by regularly publishing lists of innovation achievements from universities and research institutes alongside lists of R&D needs from SRUI enterprises. Organize thematic visitation and matching activities involving universities and research institutes to support order-based R&D and key technology breakthroughs between academic institutions and enterprises, aiming to facilitate approximately 100 industry-university-research cooperation agreements (Responsible Department: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau).Expand the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements by organizing events such as the China Innovation Challenge, the Science and Technology Achievement Express, the Patent (Achievement) Auction Season, and the Innovation Challenge Season. Invite the Science and Technology Mayors’ Group, expert service teams, specialized technology transfer service teams, and science and technology talent service specialists to precisely match with specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises, facilitating approximately 30 technology transfer cooperation projects (Responsible Department: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau).Promote the application of a range of new products and technologies, compile a catalog of new products from SRUI enterprises, and strive to have 30 items included in the provincial catalog of key new products and technologies for promotion and application. Support the first purchase, trial, and use of innovative products such as the first units of major equipment and the first batches of new materials, prioritize their inclusion in government procurement, and provide policy support through methods such as agreement supply and single-source procurement (Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Finance Bureau).Launch an initiative to upgrade the intellectual property capabilities of SRUI enterprises, encouraging and guiding them to develop targeted patent portfolios focused on strategic emerging industries prioritized by the state, and significantly increasing the number of high-value patents held. Conduct training on patent pre-examination and priority examination for SRUI enterprises to help them obtain patent grants quickly.Support SRUI enterprises in applying for provincial high-value patent cultivation projects, provincial industrial brand projects, and municipal-level intellectual property projects, with the goal of adding 20 new intellectual property advantage enterprises (demonstration enterprises) at all levels. [Responsible Departments: Municipal Market Regulation Bureau (Intellectual Property Bureau)]
5. Implement the Special Campaign to Strengthen Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative Enterprises through Industrial Ecosystem Development.Implement a series of key core technology (equipment) R&D projects; develop product (technology) roadmaps for "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" enterprises across 13 leading industrial chains; formulate 30 key enterprise technology innovation plans in alignment with the National Industrial Foundation Innovation and Development Catalog; identify and prioritize key core technology R&D projects to address gaps and strengthen industrial chains based on industry and enterprise needs; and support "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" enterprises in implementing these projects through open challenges and competitive project selection.(Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau). Promote pilot initiatives for building industrial and supply chain ecosystems; support leading enterprises in industrial clusters and anchor enterprises in industrial chains to open their supply chains and technology chains; publish lists of product support and collaborative R&D needs; integrate supporting "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" enterprises into shared supply chain, quality, standards, and certification systems; and promote the establishment of flagship platform enterprises in specialized sectors (Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau).Organize industrial chain collaboration activities, regularly collect supply and demand information from SRUI enterprises, and recommend them to the provincial online industrial chain supply-demand matching platform, as well as recommend their integration into the provincial “Leading Enterprises” supply chain system; leverage the roles of large enterprises, cluster promotion agencies, public service platforms, and trade fairs to regularly organize industry procurement matchmaking sessions and promote local and nearby collaborative supply chain partnerships.Encourage enterprises to utilize cross-border e-commerce to expand into international markets; provide risk protection and financial support for enterprises participating in domestic and international exhibitions, going global, and securing orders (Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Yangzhou Customs).Support the development of distinctive industrial clusters. Strengthen performance evaluations of provincial-level development zones and municipal-level industrial parks regarding the cultivation of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises. Each county (city, district) shall select at least one industrial cluster characterized by high concentration, advanced technology, strong innovation capabilities, significant growth potential, and distinct regional characteristics. Promote the strengthening of leading industries within these clusters, foster the development of a range of core supporting products, and enhance the supporting capacity of key links in the industrial chain.The city will strive to establish 1–2 provincial-level or higher SME specialty industrial clusters (Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Bureau of Commerce). Support a batch of green development benchmark projects, implement 100 energy-saving renovation projects, and establish 10 provincial-level or higher green factories and 3 green leading enterprises. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment)
6. Implement a special campaign to digitally empower specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises. Promote comprehensive digital evaluation coverage; implement a system of smart manufacturing consultants and integration of informatization and industrialization management system certification for specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises; guide enterprises to conduct self-assessments of their digital capabilities; provide free diagnostics to enterprises with such needs; and ensure that the digital capabilities of specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises reach approximately Level 3.Advance the digitization of core business operations. Prioritize support for SRUI enterprises in implementing intelligent upgrading and digital transformation projects. Achieve a 100% application rate of digital tools for core business operations among enterprises at the provincial level or above; complete 500 intelligent upgrading projects; have 30 enterprises pass the IT-industrial integration standardization certification; designate 100 star-rated cloud-based enterprises and 20 industrial design centers; and establish 10 provincial-level or higher smart manufacturing demonstration factories (workshops).Promote integration into the digital ecosystem by organizing key industrial internet platforms to develop and integrate a suite of industrial apps tailored to typical scenarios and production processes based on the needs of SRUI enterprises. Cultivate 1–2 pilot enterprises (or platforms) for SME digital transformation to provide “one-on-one” digital transformation services to SRUI enterprises. (Responsible Department: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
7. Implement the Special Action Plan for Financial Empowerment of Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative Enterprises. Optimize credit services, further leverage the role of financial advisors for these enterprises to guide them in formulating financing plans and improving financial management, and introduce dedicated financial products and services tailored to them. (Responsible Departments: Yangzhou Central Branch of the People’s Bank of China, Yangzhou Branch of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission).Increase credit allocation by expanding the provision of policy-based products such as the “Science and Technology Innovation Re-lending” and “Su Chuang Rong” programs. Allocate 1 billion yuan in re-lending and rediscounting funds to encourage financial institutions to offer preferential loans or bill discounting services to SRUI enterprises.Increase the issuance of medium- and long-term loans and collateralized products backed by intellectual property, accounts receivable, and environmental rights. Expand the coverage and volume of insurance for the first-of-a-kind major technical equipment and the initial batch of new materials applications. Promote intellectual property insurance services and facilitate the establishment of an intellectual property insurance consortium. Secure an additional 2 billion yuan in loans from financial institutions for SRUI enterprises (Responsible Departments: Yangzhou Central Branch of the People’s Bank of China, Yangzhou Branch of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission).Support listing and development efforts by leveraging the advantages of the green channel review mechanism between regional equity markets and the National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), as well as the direct listing linkage mechanism between the NEEQ and the Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE). Provide targeted guidance to 67 potential "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" enterprises preparing for listing, and support their listing on the "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" boards of the NEEQ and the Jiangsu Equity Exchange Center, as well as on the BSE and other exchanges, aiming to add 3–5 newly listed companies.(Responsible Department: Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau)
8. Implement the Special Action Plan for Talent Development and Skill Enhancement in Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative Enterprises. Establish talent profiles for these enterprises, support the recruitment of leading scientific and technological talents and innovation teams possessing pioneering, original, and breakthrough technologies, and intensify efforts to cultivate skilled and managerial personnel.Support the recruitment of high-level talent by soliciting applications for the municipal “Green Yang Golden Phoenix Plan,” the provincial “Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan,” and national talent programs. Encourage SRUI enterprises to form joint research consortia for key core technologies, and ensure that eligible SRUI enterprise personnel receive corresponding talent policy benefits (Responsible Departments: Municipal Party Committee Talent Office, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau).Support the training of skilled personnel by streamlining the fast-track evaluation process for professional titles for outstanding talent in SRUI enterprises and promoting pilot programs for eligible enterprises to conduct independent reviews for senior professional titles. Support the development of talent through school-enterprise cooperation and the application for customized training programs, aiming to train over 50,000 skilled personnel and cultivate more than 1,000 new-style apprentices in enterprises (Responsible Departments: Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Municipal Education Bureau).Strengthen the development of business management talent teams, implement training programs for leading talents such as the “Talented Masters” initiative, and organize specialized training sessions for entrepreneurs of SRUI enterprises while providing financial support. (Responsible Department: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
9. Implement a special campaign to enhance quality, branding, and standardization for specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises. Guide these enterprises to improve quality, branding, and standards, and promote the establishment of a matrix of quality-competitive enterprises. Launch a quality improvement campaign to promote the application of advanced management methods—such as the Excellence Model and Lean Production—among specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprises, aiming to create approximately 3 new provincial-level or higher quality benchmarks.Strengthen the cultivation of independent brands, advance the establishment of trademark and brand guidance stations, support SRUI enterprises in applying for the “Jiangsu Excellence” designation and participating in “China Brand Day” activities, and add approximately 5 new “Jiangsu Excellence” enterprises. Leverage the guiding role of standards to enhance SRUI enterprises’ awareness of standardization-based competition, guide patent-intensive enterprises to conduct pilot projects integrating patents and standards, and add 30 international, national, and industry standards led or participated in by SRUI enterprises.[Responsible Department: Municipal Market Regulation Bureau (Intellectual Property Bureau)]
(3) Integrate and Optimize the Policy Support System
10. Increase fiscal support. Effectively implement all national and provincial business-friendly policies to ensure they reach enterprises quickly and that all eligible enterprises fully benefit from them. Actively assist enterprises in securing support from the National SME Development Fund and the Provincial Government Investment Fund. Adjust and optimize existing policies by allocating a portion of the municipal-level SME development special fund for the tiered cultivation of SRUI enterprises;For other fiscal funds supporting industrial and enterprise development, eligible "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" enterprises may receive a certain percentage increase or a higher reward cap beyond the current policy standards. Encourage counties (cities, districts) and functional zones to establish award and subsidy funds for "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" enterprises. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Finance Bureau, Tax Bureau, Development and Reform Commission, Science and Technology Bureau, Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Human Resources and Social Security Bureau)
11. Increase support from investment funds. Encourage science and technology innovation mother funds to establish "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" seed funds; regularly identify equity financing needs of such enterprises and recommend them to investment institutions; regularly organize business salons and conduct activities such as project roadshows, capital matching, and IPO guidance; and increase direct and reverse investments in "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" enterprise projects by government investment funds and market-oriented sub-funds, with the government investment fund system investing in approximately 5 such enterprises.(Responsible Departments: Municipal State-owned Capital Group, Financial Regulatory Bureau)
12. Strengthen the supply of production factors. Streamline approval processes for SPEC-type enterprise projects, including project approval and filing, environmental impact assessments, safety assessments, and energy assessments; implement a tolerant and prudent regulatory approach during law enforcement inspections involving enterprises.Provide one-stop, full-process agency and assistance services for land use projects of eligible SRUI enterprises. Local authorities should make every effort to allocate land quotas to SRUI enterprises requiring additional land for capital increases and production expansion. For enterprises expanding production capacity without requiring new land, the floor area ratio may be appropriately increased provided planning conditions are met. Support the provision of customized, high-standard industrial premises for SRUI enterprises.Assistance will be provided to coordinate and resolve issues related to the balance of total pollutant emissions, and efforts will be made to ensure energy and power supply during peak summer and winter periods. (Responsible Departments: Municipal Government Affairs Office, Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Bureau of Ecology and Environment, Emergency Management Bureau, Development and Reform Commission, Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
(IV) Consolidating and Enhancing the Public Service System
13. Improve the online service platform for fostering SRUI enterprises. Establish a sub-platform for SRUI enterprise cultivation on the municipal online public service platform for small, medium, and micro enterprises. Strengthen integration with the provincial SME public service platform and the “Suqi Tong” platform to provide one-stop, end-to-end services including policy dissemination, project applications, achievement publication, and case promotion. Use platforms such as “Wo Laiban” to promptly address enterprise requests. (Responsible Department: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)
14. Effectively leverage the role of service specialists. Based on enterprise needs, further expand the team of service specialists—including SRUI enterprise service specialists, financial advisors, technology advisors, and quality directors—to provide targeted services. Strengthen service capacity at both the municipal and county levels by adding 40 new service specialists to cover SRUI enterprises at the provincial level or above, key cultivation enterprises, and pre-IPO enterprises. Organize training sessions for “SRUI Enterprise Service Specialists.”(Responsible Departments: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Market Regulation Bureau, Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau, Yangzhou Central Branch of the People’s Bank of China)
15. Integrate and effectively utilize various high-quality service resources. Establish an enterprise service alliance to consolidate high-quality resources from industry associations, research institutes, investment and financing institutions, public service platforms, and leading enterprises, providing targeted services to support the growth of SRUI enterprises. Rewards will be granted to those demonstrating significant service outcomes. Develop a “1+X” Accelerated Growth Plan for SRUI enterprises and host “SRUI Enterprise Salons,” inviting expert think tanks to regularly provide policy interpretation and project guidance services.Organize “Benchmark Study Tours for Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative Enterprises” to conduct study visits and learn from leading enterprises. Organize specialized, refined, unique, and innovative enterprises by industry to participate in regional investment and financing matchmaking events, industrial talent exchange and cooperation activities, and other events. Organize high-quality development diagnostic tours, with provincial and municipal authorities collaborating to provide “one-on-one” public diagnostic services for specialized, refined, unique, and innovative enterprises. Support participation in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions such as “Maker China” to promote the implementation and commercialization of high-quality industrial projects.(Responsible Departments: Member units of the Municipal Leading Group for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises)
IV. Support Measures
(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership. Incorporate the cultivation of SRUI enterprises into the annual comprehensive assessment system for high-quality development. The Municipal Leading Group for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises will coordinate the city-wide cultivation of SRUI enterprises, formulate annual work objectives and tasks, and coordinate the resolution of major issues. All localities and relevant departments shall implement these measures in accordance with their respective responsibilities.The people’s governments of each county (city, district) and the administrative committees of functional zones shall be responsible for the cultivation of SPEC-New enterprises in their respective regions. They shall incorporate relevant work into their assessment and evaluation systems, establish dedicated task forces, formulate cultivation plans, identify practical projects, strengthen government-enterprise interaction, enhance policy and service support, organize benchmarking and development initiatives, stimulate the emergence of a new cohort of SPEC-New enterprises, and promote their rapid growth and expansion. (Responsible Departments: Member units of the Municipal Leading Group for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises)
(2) Strengthen Work Implementation. Improve the cross-departmental mechanism for sharing lists of SRUI enterprises, provide checklist-based services for SRUI enterprise projects, and regularly publish the results of SRUI enterprise cultivation. Establish a supervision and promotion mechanism for SRUI enterprise cultivation featuring “bimonthly reviews, semi-annual comparisons, and annual evaluations,” conduct regular on-site inspections and coordination of SRUI enterprise cultivation efforts, and highlight a batch of exemplary cases of SRUI enterprise development.(Responsible Departments: Member units of the Municipal Leading Group for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises)
(3) Strengthen Publicity and Promotion. Fully leverage mainstream media such as the Yangzhou Daily, government department websites, and new media platforms like WeChat, Weibo, and mobile apps to effectively communicate the “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” narrative. Identify and promote a group of exemplary models that can serve as benchmarks for others to emulate, summarize a series of reform and innovation measures, and foster a favorable social atmosphere that supports and drives the vigorous development of SRUI enterprises. (Responsible Departments: Member units of the Municipal Leading Group for Promoting the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises)
