Original Title: Several Policies on Further Promoting Science and Technology Innovation to Drive High-Quality Development

To thoroughly implement the innovation-driven development strategy, carry out major policy decisions and deployments at the central, provincial, and municipal levels, position scientific and technological innovation as the primary driving force for high-quality development, deepen the integrated reform of the “Four Modernizations,” and advance the high-level construction of a National Innovative City, the following policies are hereby proposed.

I. Continuously Cultivate Innovative Enterprises. Coordinate the advancement of “Small-to-High,” “Standard-to-High,” and “High-to-Strong” initiatives to build a tiered structure of innovative enterprises based on science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, supported by high-tech enterprises, and led by innovative flagship enterprises. A reward of 500,000 yuan will be granted to enterprises newly recognized as National High-Tech Enterprises; a reward of 100,000 yuan will be granted to enterprises re-recognized as National High-Tech Enterprises;National high-tech enterprises relocating from outside the city that are re-certified will receive rewards according to the standards for initial certification mentioned above. Enterprises selected for the first time as provincial innovative leading enterprises or among the provincial top 100 innovative enterprises will receive a reward of 1 million yuan; those selected for the first time as provincial unicorns, potential unicorns, or gazelle enterprises will receive rewards of 2 million yuan, 1 million yuan, and 500,000 yuan, respectively. Enterprises certified for the first time as provincial agricultural technology-based enterprises will receive a reward of 100,000 yuan.Enterprises included in the municipal high-tech enterprise cultivation pool will receive a reward of 50,000 yuan. The recruitment of technology-based enterprises (projects) will be incorporated into the city’s investment promotion system, and counties (districts) are encouraged to gradually increase the proportion of technology-based projects among newly recruited projects.

II. Incentives for Enterprises to Conduct R&D Activities. Support enterprises in increasing R&D investment and establishing an R&D reserve fund system. For annual R&D expenses exceeding 2 million yuan but not exceeding 10 million yuan (inclusive), a subsidy of 1% to 2% of the R&D expenses eligible for additional tax deductions will be provided; for amounts exceeding 10 million yuan, a subsidy of 0.5% to 1.5% of the R&D expenses eligible for additional tax deductions will be provided; the maximum annual subsidy per enterprise is 1 million yuan.For enterprises whose R&D expenses increase by 10% or more compared to the previous year, a subsidy of 8% of the incremental amount will be provided, with a maximum annual subsidy of 500,000 yuan per enterprise; enterprises with no R&D expenditure in the previous year are not eligible for the incremental subsidy. For nationally recognized science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, a preferential policy of 100% additional tax deduction for corporate R&D expenses will be implemented.Strengthen the support provided by science and technology innovation vouchers for the technological innovation of small, medium, and micro enterprises. For major science and technology projects led by enterprises—such as National Major Science and Technology Special Projects, National Key R&D Programs, and Science and Technology Innovation 2030—major projects—matching support will be provided at a ratio of 1:0.5 based on the national investment in the project, with a maximum funding amount of 5 million yuan per project.

III. Promoting the Establishment of High-Level R&D Institutions by Enterprises.Guide industrial enterprises above a certain scale, high-tech enterprises, and science and technology-based SMEs to universally establish R&D institutions to enhance their independent innovation capabilities. A reward of 300,000 yuan will be granted to those newly recognized as provincial-level enterprise engineering and technology research centers; a reward of 1 million yuan will be granted to those newly recognized as provincial-level academician workstations; and for engineering and technology research centers and academician workstations that receive an “Excellent” rating in provincial performance evaluations, the host institution will be rewarded with an amount not exceeding 50% of the aforementioned recognition reward.A reward of 200,000 yuan will be granted for the establishment of national-level postdoctoral workstations and provincial-level postdoctoral innovation practice bases. A maximum reward of 300,000 yuan will be granted for the establishment of offshore R&D institutions that are incorporated into the city’s filing management system. A reward of 50,000 yuan will be granted for passing the provincial R&D management system standardization certification. For joint innovation centers co-established with the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute, matching support will be provided on a 1:1 basis relative to the funding provided by the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute.

IV. Building Major Industrial R&D Platforms. Support will be provided to central government-affiliated enterprises, universities, research institutes, and innovation and entrepreneurship teams that establish major science and technology innovation platforms in Suqian with independent legal person status, introduce core technologies, and deploy core R&D teams, provided such platforms align with Suqian’s industrial development direction. During the construction period, support of up to 15 million yuan may be provided in phases and tiers based on innovation levels and investment scale;For those accepted by the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute as affiliated specialized research institutes, an additional support of up to 5 million yuan will be provided on top of the above policies. For particularly significant specialized and public-benefit science and technology innovation platforms led by renowned scientists, high-level overseas talent startup teams, or prominent research institutions and universities, support will be provided on a case-by-case basis.To support the sustainable development of industrial technology research institutes, annual performance evaluations will be conducted for those registered with the municipal government. Institutes rated “合格” (Pass) or higher will receive a reward equivalent to 15% of the actual revenue received from contract research, technology transfer, and public science and technology services provided to Suqian enterprises in the previous year, up to a maximum of 1 million yuan; those rated “优秀” (Excellent) will receive an additional reward of 400,000 yuan.Actively foster new R&D institutions. For newly established R&D institutions that have commenced substantive operations, conduct annual performance evaluations following certification, and provide rewards in accordance with the standards for industrial technology research institutes. For new R&D institutions, R&D service enterprises, leading enterprises, universities, and research institutes that effectively integrate high-quality innovation resources to establish national-level or provincial-level key laboratories or technology innovation centers, provide funding of 5 million yuan and 2 million yuan, respectively.

V. Support for the Development of Science and Technology Innovation Incubation Platforms. Promote the establishment of incubation platforms in various types of parks to build a comprehensive innovation and entrepreneurship incubation chain comprising “co-working spaces + incubators + accelerators + industrial parks.” Newly recognized national-level and provincial-level science and technology enterprise incubators or accelerators will receive rewards of 600,000 yuan and 300,000 yuan, respectively; those rated “Excellent” in annual performance evaluations will receive an additional reward of 200,000 yuan.Newly designated national-level and provincial-level maker spaces or “Star Innovation Spaces” will receive rewards of 300,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan, respectively. Parks included in the provincial-level science and technology entrepreneurship incubation chain pilot program will receive a reward of 1 million yuan; those newly designated as National Torch Specialized Industrial Bases will receive a reward of 1 million yuan. Support will be provided for domestic and international universities to establish university science and technology parks in Suqian; those designated as provincial-level university science and technology parks will receive up to 10 million yuan in funding support.

VI. Incentivizing Major Scientific and Technological Achievements. Focusing on industrial foresight and key technologies, as well as technological innovation in modern agriculture and social development, we will organize and implement key R&D programs to overcome “bottleneck” technologies in the industry. We will organize and implement major scientific and technological achievement transformation programs, providing funding for enterprise projects aimed at commercializing major innovative achievements, with a maximum of 3 million yuan per project. We will organize and implement basic research programs to support universities, research institutes, medical institutions, leading industrial enterprises, and chain-leading enterprises in conducting basic research.In municipal-level science and technology programs, establish special initiatives for “challenge-based recruitment” and “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality,” ensuring alignment and coordination with the provincial science and technology program system. This will create a program framework that guides R&D activities across society, thereby enhancing the efficiency and caliber of research outcomes. Support the establishment of the Suqian Municipal Enterprise Science and Technology R&D Guidance Fund in collaboration with the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute, providing up to 1 million yuan in funding per R&D project.For the lead institution of a project that wins a national or provincial science and technology award, matching rewards of up to 3 million yuan will be provided at a ratio of 1:4 and 1:2, respectively.

VII. Stimulating the Vitality of Technology Transfer and Commercialization. Enterprises that introduce advanced technological achievements from within or outside the province for transfer and commercialization within the city will receive a subsidy equivalent to 5% of the actual transaction value of the technology contract. Enterprises that acquire a single scientific and technological achievement from universities or research institutes for over 1 million yuan and commercialize it within the city will receive a subsidy equivalent to 15% of the actual payment amount, with a maximum of 1 million yuan per enterprise per year.Various technology transfer agencies that introduce and facilitate the transfer and commercialization of achievements for enterprises and institutions in our city shall be granted a subsidy equivalent to 2% of the actual transaction value of the technology contract, with a maximum reward of 50,000 yuan per contract.Technology brokers (managers) who provide services to enterprises and institutions in our city for technology transfer activities shall receive a reward and subsidy equivalent to 1% of the actual transaction value of the technology contract, with a maximum reward of 20,000 yuan per contract. High-level talents (teams) who bring high-tech achievements with independent intellectual property rights to Suqian to establish or lead enterprises shall be encouraged to receive priority support from various investment funds.

VIII. Building an Industrial Science and Technology Service Chain. Focusing on the cultivation and development of the city’s key industrial chains, we will strengthen full-chain science and technology services. Leading entities that establish provincial-level industrial technology innovation strategic alliances or provincial innovation consortia will receive a reward of 200,000 yuan; those evaluated as excellent by the province will receive a reward of 100,000 yuan. We will promote the opening of large-scale scientific research instruments and experimental facilities at research institutions and universities to the public, providing the hosting entities with subsidies of up to 20% of their annual service revenue, with a maximum of 300,000 yuan, based on service performance.Entities designated as provincial-level science and technology service clusters (demonstration zones) or specialty bases will receive a 500,000 yuan reward. Enterprises recognized as provincial technology-advanced service enterprises will be rewarded in accordance with the policies for the initial and re-certification of high-tech enterprises; if an enterprise is certified as both a high-tech enterprise and a technology-advanced service enterprise in the same year, it will receive the higher of the two rewards, and no duplicate rewards will be granted.

IX. Supporting Innovation by High-Level Science and Technology Talent. Optimize the composition of the Basic Research Program (Natural Science Fund) projects. Implement doctoral research startup projects targeting universities, research institutes, medical institutions, and new R&D institutions, with municipal funding of up to 50,000 yuan per project. Projects that win awards in the Municipal Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition or the Municipal High-Level Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition will be included in the scope of municipal-level talent and science and technology program support.Support enterprises and institutions in our city to establish provincial-level foreign expert studios in response to major socio-economic development needs; a reward of 100,000 yuan will be granted for newly approved provincial-level foreign expert studios. Support foreign talent in applying for the National and Provincial Friendship Awards; units receiving the National Friendship Award and the Provincial Friendship Award will be rewarded with 300,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan, respectively. Deepen the implementation of the science and technology special envoy system and provide subsidies for the work carried out by science and technology special envoys.

X. Establish and Improve a Diversified Science and Technology Investment System. Increase fiscal investment in science and technology and improve the mechanism for stable growth in fiscal science and technology investment. From 2022 to 2025, the municipal science and technology innovation special fund will maintain a stable growth rate, focusing on the implementation of science and technology programs, the cultivation of various science and technology innovation enterprises, subsidies for the construction of science and technology platforms, and the organization of science and technology innovation activities. We will increase sustained and stable fiscal support for basic research and applied basic research.Strengthen the coordination between fiscal funds and financial instruments, fully leverage the catalytic role of fiscal funds, and guide financial capital and private investment into the field of science and technology innovation. Establish a science and technology venture capital fund to facilitate the establishment and growth in Suqian of major projects in high-tech industries and future industries that are highly influential, have strong spillover effects, demonstrate excellent growth potential, and possess core competitiveness. Counties (districts) shall adjust and optimize the structure of fiscal expenditures, increase fiscal investment in science and technology, and enhance the efficiency of fund utilization.

This policy shall take effect from the date of issuance and remain valid until December 31, 2025. The allocation channels for incentive and subsidy funds shall be coordinated by the finance department; for enterprises in municipal districts, such funds shall be jointly borne by the municipal and district finance departments in a 5:5 ratio;for counties where enterprises are first selected as Provincial Innovative Leading Enterprises, Provincial Top 100 Innovative Enterprises, or Provincial Unicorn Enterprises, or where newly recognized national-level or provincial-level key laboratories, technology innovation centers, or provincial-level academician workstations are established, the funding for such awards and subsidies shall be jointly borne by the municipal and county finances in a 2:8 ratio.Each county (district) shall refine its local incentive policies in accordance with this policy and in light of local conditions. Where a single matter is covered by two or more municipal-level policies, incentives shall be awarded according to the principle of “the higher amount, without duplication.” Entities that, during the current year, have experienced major production safety accidents, major environmental pollution incidents, serious product quality issues, severe acts of bad faith, tax evasion or tax avoidance resulting in investigation and prosecution by tax authorities, or have been included on relevant joint disciplinary blacklists for bad faith, shall not be eligible for the benefits of this policy.