Original Title: Several Policies on Supporting the Construction of a Pioneer City for Innovation-Driven Development (Trial)

To thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important directives on innovation-driven development, fully carry out the decisions and arrangements of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the Eighth and Ninth Plenary Sessions of the 11th Provincial Party Committee, and the Seventh Municipal Party Congress, and strive to build Nanchong into a pioneer city for innovation-driven development by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the following policies are formulated in accordance with the spirit of the “Notice of the People’s Government of Sichuan Province on Issuing Several Policies to Further Support Scientific and Technological Innovation” (Chuan Fu Fa [2021] No. 8) and in light of Nanchong’s actual conditions.

I. Support the Establishment and Construction of Major Basic Research Platforms. For national laboratories (bases), national key laboratories, Tianfu Laboratories, and national major science and technology infrastructure projects that are established and constructed, a post-grant subsidy will be provided at a 1:1 ratio based on the central government’s financial support standards, and at 50% of the provincial government’s financial support standards. Tianfu Laboratories and major science and technology infrastructure projects designated by the national and provincial governments will be included in the city’s key priority projects, with a “green channel” opened for land use procedures and full allocation of land quotas guaranteed.

II. Support the construction of major industrial technology innovation platforms. For approved National Engineering Research Centers, National Enterprise Technology Centers, and provincial-level or higher industrial (technology) innovation centers, manufacturing innovation centers, mass entrepreneurship and innovation demonstration bases, pilot-scale R&D platforms, new-type R&D institutions, and innovation consortia, provide ex-post subsidies at a 1:1 ratio based on central government funding standards and at 50% of provincial government funding standards.For newly approved or recognized key (engineering) laboratories, engineering (technology) research centers, enterprise technology centers, and industrial design centers, one-time ex-post subsidies of 300,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan will be provided at the provincial and municipal levels, respectively. Support will be provided to help new R&D institutions, such as industrial technology research institutes and industrial technology innovation consortia, enhance their capabilities; upon municipal-level recognition, a one-time ex-post subsidy of 100,000 yuan will be granted.

III. Supporting Enterprises in Enhancing Innovation Capabilities. Increase support for enterprises tackling key core technologies. For enterprises seeking local matching funds to participate in major national or provincial science and technology projects, support will be provided on a case-by-case basis. A one-time post-grant subsidy of 300,000 yuan will be provided to each enterprise newly recognized or filed at the provincial level or above as a leading enterprise, a manufacturing single-champion enterprise, a specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giant” enterprise, a gazelle enterprise, or a technological innovation demonstration enterprise.For enterprises recognized as National High-Tech Enterprises, a one-time post-grant subsidy of 300,000 yuan will be provided for initial recognition, and 50,000 yuan for re-recognition. Enterprises that obtain a National Science and Technology SME Registry Number will receive a post-grant subsidy of up to 2,000 yuan per enterprise.

IV. Support for Cultivating and Recruiting High-Level Innovative Talent. For entities registered within the administrative boundaries of Nanchong City, a post-grant subsidy of 5 million yuan will be provided for each “Academy of Sciences” or “Academy of Engineering” academician cultivated, and 2 million yuan for each national-level science and technology leader newly recruited on a full-time basis.Science and technology professionals newly selected for municipal-level or higher talent programs will receive priority support in the allocation of science and technology projects. Support policies for newly approved Academician (Expert) Workstations and Postdoctoral Research Stations in our city will be implemented in accordance with existing documents.

V. Support for Optimizing and Improving the Science and Technology Service System. For scientific and technological achievements that have won national or provincial science and technology awards (where the primary research institution is registered within the administrative boundaries of Nanchong City) and for award-winning individuals (who must be working within the administrative boundaries of Nanchong City), a reward equal to the amount of the prize money will be granted; for enterprises and institutions recognized for the first time as demonstration entities for the transfer and transformation of scientific and technological achievements, one-time post-grant subsidies of 500,000 yuan and 300,000 yuan per entity will be provided at the national and provincial levels, respectively.For science and technology enterprise incubators recognized or registered for the first time, one-time post-grant subsidies of 1 million yuan, 500,000 yuan, and 100,000 yuan will be provided for national, provincial, and municipal levels, respectively; for maker spaces recognized or registered for the first time, one-time post-grant subsidies of 500,000 yuan, 200,000 yuan, and 100,000 yuan will be provided for national, provincial, and municipal levels, respectively.National-level “Star Innovation Spaces” and municipal-level science and technology special envoy workstations that are recognized or registered for the first time will receive one-time post-subsidies of 100,000 yuan and 50,000 yuan, respectively. Newly approved science popularization bases will receive one-time post-subsidies of 200,000 yuan, 50,000 yuan, and 30,000 yuan for national, provincial, and municipal levels, respectively. Municipal-level or higher science and technology platforms that are evaluated as “excellent” or equivalent will be granted subsidies at the discretion of the authorities.

VI. Support for Increased R&D Investment and the Development of Technology Finance. Enterprises will receive a post-grant subsidy equivalent to 0.1% of their total R&D expenditure from the previous year, up to a maximum of 300,000 yuan. Higher education institutions, research institutes, and medical and health institutions under the statistical jurisdiction of Nanchong will receive post-grant subsidies based on their total R&D expenditure and growth rate from the previous year.Support technology-based enterprises in securing financing through financial products such as “Science and Technology Innovation Loans,” “Park Guarantee Loans,” and “Government Procurement Loans.” Interest subsidies will be provided for technology-related loans taken out by technology-based enterprises, up to 50% of the total interest paid in the previous year, with a maximum subsidy of 300,000 yuan. Support the development of technology-focused banking institutions.Vigorously promote the development of technology finance, support pilot programs for technology insurance, accelerate the construction of new technology finance platforms, actively guide technology-based enterprises to raise capital through IPOs and bond issuances, and vigorously promote the development of quasi-financial sectors such as technology venture capital, technology guarantees, and technology microloans.

VII. Deepen the reform of granting rights to scientific and technological achievements generated in the course of employment. Support municipal universities, research institutes, and other scientific research institutions in conducting pilot programs for non-asset-based management of scientific and technological achievements prior to commercialization. Explore the establishment of a list for the management of state-owned assets related to such achievements or for partial withdrawal from state-owned asset management, and explore new models for the management of state-owned assets related to scientific and technological achievements generated in the course of employment.Establish a mechanism for error tolerance, correction, and exemption from liability in the deepening reform of scientific and technological achievements arising from official duties. Where discrepancies in policy interpretation arise between supervisory and inspection departments and the entities they oversee, the supervisory and inspection departments shall promptly communicate with the policy-making departments to investigate and clarify the matter.Provided that the heads of reform-implementing units and relevant departments fulfill their duties with due diligence, strictly enforce management systems such as decision-making and public disclosure, and have not sought illegal gains, they shall be exempt from liability for decision-making errors in the pricing of scientific and technological achievements, the independent determination of asset valuations, and the assignment of rights to such achievements.

VIII. Supporting the Innovative Development of Universities and Research Institutes. Deepen city-university cooperation and support the accelerated development of universities such as West China Normal University, North Sichuan Medical College, and Southwest Petroleum University (Nanchong).The municipal government will allocate 2 million yuan annually in special funds, in accordance with the requirements of higher-level competent authorities, to support the Municipal Academy of Agricultural Sciences in establishing a Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory jointly built by the provincial department and the city. Gradually expand the scope of the pilot program for the “lump-sum funding system” for research project funding. Continue to support higher education institutions and research institutes in enhancing their innovation capabilities, building innovation platforms, and securing innovation resources, thereby continuously strengthening the collaborative innovation capacity among government, industry, academia, research, and application sectors.

IX. Support for County-Level Science and Technology Innovation. For counties (cities, districts) newly designated as National Innovative Counties (Cities, Districts) or Provincial Innovative Cities, the municipal government will provide subsidies based on the principle of “case-by-case consideration.” For counties (cities, districts) that successfully establish a provincial-level or higher science and technology park (demonstration zone) for the first time, their operational management bodies will receive retroactive subsidies of 1 million yuan for national-level parks and 500,000 yuan for provincial-level parks.Support will be provided to help science and technology parks advance in rankings. For provincial-level or higher science and technology parks that achieve a ranking higher than their historical best in performance evaluations at the corresponding level, their operational management bodies will receive ex-post subsidies of 300,000 yuan for national-level parks and 200,000 yuan for provincial-level parks, respectively. These funds are to be used for independently developing the service system of the science and technology parks.Strengthen the performance evaluation of county (city, district) Party committees and governments in advancing innovation-driven, high-quality development. Increase the weighting of innovation indicators—such as the intensity of R&D investment across society and the development of high-tech industries—in these evaluations. Each county (city, district) shall formulate and refine policy measures to further support scientific and technological innovation, increase fiscal investment in science and technology, and establish dedicated science and technology funds at their respective levels.

X. Increase fiscal investment in science and technology. Integrate four special programs—applied technology research and development, transformation of scientific and technological achievements, guidance for science and technology venture capital, and key laboratories jointly established by the Department and municipalities—to establish a special program for scientific and technological research and development. An annual budget of no less than 25 million yuan shall be allocated to support various innovation entities in conducting scientific and technological research and transforming scientific and technological achievements through grant-based funding;Integrate the funds for major science and technology innovation initiatives, key science and technology competitions and events, and the Innovation-Driven Development Special Fund to establish a new Innovation-Driven Development Special Fund. Allocate an annual budget of no less than 35 million yuan to implement incentive and subsidy policies, ensure the operation of major science and technology innovation platforms, and organize key competitions, events, and major science and technology innovation initiatives. Explore the direct disbursement of municipal fiscal funds to the recipient organizations.

This policy is valid for two years, effective from January 10, 2022, and shall be interpreted by the Municipal Science and Technology Bureau in conjunction with relevant departments.