Original Title: Notice from the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Shandong Province, the Development and Reform Commission of Shandong Province, the Department of Education of Shandong Province, the Department of Science and Technology of Shandong Province, and the Market Supervision Administration of Shandong Province on Issuing the “Three-Year Action Plan for Enhancing Manufacturing Innovation Capabilities in Shandong Province (2023–2025)”
Manufacturing is the cornerstone of the nation, the instrument of its prosperity, and the foundation of its strength.To thoroughly implement the innovation-driven development strategy, accelerate the enhancement of manufacturing innovation capabilities, promote high-quality development of the province’s manufacturing sector, and support the construction of a strong province in advanced manufacturing, this Action Plan has been formulated.

I. General Requirements

(1) Guiding Principles

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, thoroughly implement the innovation-driven development strategy, and accelerate the construction of a strong province in advanced manufacturing. Focusing on flagship industrial chains, we will leverage the role of enterprises as the main drivers of innovation, strengthen capabilities in tackling key core technologies, and intensify efforts to attract and cultivate high-level scientific and technological innovation talent. We will enhance enterprises’ capacity for independent innovation and core competitiveness, vigorously foster the development of high-quality enterprises and future industries, and elevate the level of industrial foundation advancement and industrial chain modernization.We will guide enterprises to strengthen quality and brand development, drive quality, efficiency, and dynamic transformations in manufacturing through technological innovation, promote the high-end positioning of the “Made in Shandong” brand, and build “Made in Shandong” into a leading brand.

(2) Main Objectives

Through the implementation of nine major initiatives—including the Initiative to Enhance Capabilities in Tackling Key Core Technologies, the Initiative to Strengthen the Scientific and Technological Innovation Talent Pool, the Initiative to Boost Enterprise Technological Innovation Capabilities, the Initiative to Cultivate and Enhance High-Quality Enterprises, the Initiative to Improve Collaborative Innovation Capabilities Along Industrial Chains, the Initiative to Advance Future Industries, the Initiative to Elevate the “Made in Shandong” Brand, the Initiative to Enhance Quality Management Systems, and the Initiative to Promote Standardization—by 2025, the innovation environment will be further optimized,the manufacturing innovation system will be further refined, and new breakthroughs will be achieved in areas such as the capability to tackle key core technologies, the pool of scientific and technological innovation talent, enterprises’ independent innovation capabilities, the scale of high-quality enterprise cultivation, industrial chain collaborative innovation capabilities, the development level of future industries, the influence of the “Made in Shandong” brand, and the level of quality management and standardization system construction.

— Capabilities for tackling key core technologies will gradually strengthen. Efforts to address foundational industrial technologies will be intensified, with manufacturing innovation centers tackling approximately 10 such technologies annually. Each year, 100 major science and technology innovation projects and more than 30 major basic research projects will be organized and implemented. A range of advanced process technologies will be developed and applied; joint research on common industrial technologies will be promoted; and artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be vigorously developed, with the “empowering” effects of AI becoming increasingly evident.

— The pool of scientific and technological innovation talent continues to be strengthened. Enterprises firmly regard talent as the core resource driving high-quality development; pathways for attracting and cultivating talent are constantly expanding, systems for utilizing and retaining talent are becoming more refined, and talent incentive mechanisms are growing increasingly diverse. We will continue to expand the ranks of nationally recognized leading talent, implementing one cycle of the Taishan Industrial Leading Talent Project’s Innovation Leading Talent Program annually, and precisely recruiting and cultivating approximately 100 enterprise-based talents and 50 platform-based talents.

— Enterprises’ independent innovation capabilities have significantly improved.The number of provincial “One Enterprise, One Technology” R&D centers has reached approximately 2,150; national-level technological innovation demonstration enterprises have reached approximately 70; provincial-level technological innovation demonstration enterprises have reached approximately 500; national-level enterprise technology centers have reached approximately 220; and the total number of new-type R&D institutions across the province has reached 1,000, with over 500 at the provincial level. Approximately 3,000 technological innovation projects are implemented annually, driving the creation of a large number of new technologies, new products, and new processes.

—The scale of high-quality enterprise cultivation will grow year by year. Approximately 400 gazelle enterprises and 3 unicorn enterprises will be newly cultivated annually.By 2025, we will strive to foster 10,000 specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), approximately 1,000 specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giant” enterprises, approximately 1,000 provincial-level or higher manufacturing single-champion enterprises, 33,000 high-tech enterprises across the province, and 42,000 enterprises listed in the National Database of Science and Technology-Based SMEs.

——Significantly enhanced collaborative innovation capabilities along industrial chains. We will build approved national manufacturing innovation centers, industrial innovation centers, and technology innovation centers to high standards; the number of provincial manufacturing innovation centers will reach approximately 50; the total number of provincial-level manufacturing technology innovation centers will remain stable at around 100; and we will support outstanding provincial technology innovation centers in striving to become national technology innovation centers.Manufacturing Innovation Centers, Industrial Innovation Centers, and Technology Innovation Centers will become the driving forces behind collaborative innovation along industrial chains. Mature mechanisms for precise industry-academia-research collaboration will be established around flagship industrial chains, and channels for the commercialization of scientific and technological innovation achievements will be streamlined.

——Future industries will lead the nation. We will establish Shandong as a national pioneer in the development of future industries. A preliminary future industry system will be established, featuring breakthroughs in a number of strategically significant key generic technologies, the creation of a range of flagship products and services, and the cultivation of a group of leading domestic enterprises and innovation platforms. Relying on specialized industrial parks, we will build a number of distinctive and highly innovative future industry clusters.

——The influence of the “Made in Shandong” brand continues to expand. Approximately 100 “Made in Shandong · Qilu Masterpieces” will be selected and promoted annually, and the “Made in Shandong · Brand Stories” exhibition and broadcast campaign will be conducted. Efforts to promote and apply advanced quality management practices will be intensified, with approximately 60 national quality benchmarks and around 400 provincial quality benchmarks established.

— New breakthroughs have been achieved in the development of the standardization system. A body of national, industry, local, and group standards has been established. Enterprises now hold more intellectual property rights for core technologies and innovative achievements, significantly enhancing the innovation capacity and core competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.

II. Key Tasks

(1) Action to Enhance Capabilities in Tackling Key Core Technologies

1. Strengthen research and development of foundational industrial technologies. Implement the Industrial Foundation Restructuring Project, compile a catalog of innovative development in industrial foundations, and accelerate breakthroughs in core sectors such as machine tools, key raw materials, robotics, optoelectronics, and high-end software. Precisely address shortcomings in the “Five Foundations” (basic components, basic elements, basic materials, basic software, and basic processes).Improve mechanisms such as government “first-purchase and first-use” policies and insurance compensation to promote the large-scale application and iterative upgrading of innovative products, including first-of-a-kind equipment, first-batch materials, and first-version software. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Science and Technology)

2. Advance targeted efforts to overcome “chokepoint” technologies in manufacturing. Vigorously promote organizational approaches for major scientific research tasks, such as “open challenges,” “competitive selection,” and “commitment pledges,” actively carry out organized research activities, and explore a Shandong-specific path for a new national system dedicated to tackling key core technologies.Each year, we will organize and implement 100 major science and technology innovation projects and more than 30 major basic research projects, carry out targeted campaigns to tackle “chokepoint” technologies, achieve breakthroughs in a batch of such technologies, and support the manufacturing industry’s industrial chains in leveraging strengths, addressing weaknesses, and strengthening vulnerable areas. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

3. Develop and apply a range of advanced process technologies. Through the implementation of enterprise technology innovation projects, develop, promote, and apply a range of new processes. Develop and apply advanced process technologies such as additive manufacturing, ultra-precision machining, near-net-shape forming, and molecular-level property characterization. Support the construction of operational data models covering the entire production process across industries, and use data analysis to achieve process improvements, operational optimization, and quality control. Carry out the integrated application of key technologies and advanced manufacturing processes, and accelerate the construction of digital workshops and smart factories.(Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

4. Promote joint research and development of common industrial technologies. Organize key industries and “chain-leading” enterprises to identify and publish a catalog of key common technologies (and products) for the manufacturing sector, addressing both innovation and upgrading of industrial chains as well as risks of supply disruptions and chain breaks. Guide innovation resources toward enterprise technology needs, critical stages of technological innovation, key materials, and key equipment to address technological shortcomings in critical links of the industrial chain. Each year, facilitate manufacturing innovation centers in overcoming approximately 10 common industrial technologies.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

5. Vigorously Develop Artificial Intelligence Technology. We will build the Jinan National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Pilot Zone and the Jinan-Qingdao Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Application Pioneer Zone to high standards, continuously amplifying the “empowering” effects of AI technology. Efforts will focus on open collaboration, the commercialization of innovation outcomes, and institutional development to drive the rapid growth, scaling, and strengthening of AI capabilities. Leveraging our province’s comprehensive industrial system and abundant application scenarios, we will explore a demonstration model with provincial characteristics to establish a unique national advantage and industry leadership.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

(2) Action Plan for Enhancing the Scientific and Technological Innovation Talent Pool

6. Cultivate and Strengthen High-Level Technological Innovation Talent. Diligently carry out the application and recommendation process for national-level talent programs. Continuously expand the scale of the “national-level” leading talent pool. Implement the Innovation Leading Talent Project under the Taishan Industrial Leading Talent Program. Precisely attract and cultivate a group of high-level innovation leaders capable of resolving critical bottleneck technologies in the industry. Targeting key industrial chains, annually select 100 critical industrial technology challenges for global release, precisely recruit a group of urgently needed talent, and implement a series of high-level innovation projects.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Science and Technology)

7. Build a Corps of Outstanding Engineers. Deepen reforms of the professional title system for engineering and technical personnel. Implement a new round of the Professional Technical Personnel Knowledge Update Program and improve the professional title system to better suit the career characteristics of engineering and technical personnel. Explore a work system for the cultivation and evaluation of outstanding engineers. Include outstanding engineers who have made significant contributions in the “fast-track” channel for professional title evaluation.Implement the “10,000 Digital Specialists in Enterprises” initiative. Implement the “Work Plan for 10,000 Digital Specialists in Enterprises,” launch the “Digital Specialist Public Service Platform,” and accelerate the development of a team of outstanding engineers capable of empowering enterprises’ digital transformation. (Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

(3) Action Plan for Enhancing Enterprise Technological Innovation Capabilities

8. Strengthen the development of enterprise R&D institutions. Improve the institutional mechanisms for enterprise-led industrial technology R&D and innovation, and support enterprises in establishing R&D institutions and innovation platforms at all levels, including “One Enterprise, One Technology” R&D centers, industrial design centers, software engineering technology centers, key laboratories, enterprise technology centers, and engineering research centers. Encourage enterprises to independently establish R&D institutions based on their development needs, focus on breaking through key core technologies within their respective industries and fields, and secure strategic high ground in science and technology.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

9. Organize and implement enterprise technological innovation project plans. Promote enterprises to increase R&D investment, carry out R&D activities, and strengthen the development of R&D institutions and R&D personnel teams, thereby enhancing the level of industrial technology R&D and the commercialization of innovation outcomes. Focus efforts on tackling key technological challenges in industrial chains such as next-generation information technology, high-end equipment, high-end chemicals, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, light industry, textiles and apparel, and food.Encourage “chain-leading” enterprises to play a leading role in spearheading the development of breakthrough technologies for “bottleneck” issues in key sectors and critical links of industrial chains. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Science and Technology)

10. Cultivate a group of technological innovation demonstration enterprises. Implement a “more investment, more rewards” R&D investment subsidy mechanism for technology-based enterprises to guide manufacturing enterprises in increasing their R&D investment. Implement the Innovation Capacity Enhancement Project for Technology-Based Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to support collaborative innovation among 1,000 enterprises involving industry, academia, and research institutions. Cultivate a group of national and provincial technological innovation demonstration enterprises, fully leverage the leading and driving role of flagship enterprises, and vigorously promote advanced experiences and models of technological innovation through on-site meetings, media publicity, and other means to form a technological innovation demonstration system covering all industrial sectors.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

(IV) Action Plan for Cultivating and Enhancing High-Quality Enterprises

11. Building Leading Enterprises. Fully implement the “chain leader system” to support strategic cooperation among enterprises as well as cross-industry and cross-regional mergers and reorganizations, thereby enhancing the level of scaled and intensive operations. Focusing on the “Top Ten” industries, we will accelerate the development of a group of leading enterprises with ecosystem dominance and core competitiveness.Cultivate enterprises poised for new breakthroughs. By 2025, we aim to foster 15 enterprises whose annual sales (operating) revenue exceeds 10 billion yuan for the first time, 5 enterprises exceeding 50 billion yuan, and approximately 3 enterprises exceeding 100 billion yuan. (Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

12. Cultivate high-growth enterprises. Fully stimulate the innovation and entrepreneurship vitality of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), accelerate the cultivation of a group of high-quality SMEs that specialize in niche markets, focus on their core businesses, possess outstanding innovation capabilities, and demonstrate high growth potential, thereby forming a tiered cultivation and growth system for “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” (SRUI) enterprises, gazelle enterprises, unicorns, and manufacturing single-champions.Cultivate the main force for innovation and creation, implement a tiered cultivation program for technology-based enterprises, establish an inclusive innovation policy system covering the entire enterprise lifecycle, and promote both quantitative and qualitative growth in the pool of technology-based enterprises. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Science and Technology)

13. Promote Integration and Synergy Among Large, Medium, and Small Enterprises

Support leading enterprises in fulfilling their role as “chain leaders” within industrial chains. Through industry associations and industrial alliances, these enterprises will drive highly related, highly synergistic SMEs—spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary industries—to integrate into industrial chains, supply chains, and innovation chains in areas such as technological breakthroughs, product support, brand channels, and financial integration. This initiative aims to create approximately 100 provincial-level SME specialty industrial clusters.Encourage SMEs to strengthen collaborative innovation and supporting partnerships with leading enterprises, and support the development of comprehensive service platforms for SMEs covering information, technology, import/export, and digital transformation. (Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

(5) Action Plan to Enhance Collaborative Innovation Capabilities in Industrial Chains

14. Plan and construct major science and technology innovation platforms and facilities. Accelerate the construction of major facilities such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences Jinan Science and Technology Innovation City, and ensure high-quality development of the Laoshan Laboratory. Leverage the leading and supporting roles of national technology innovation centers (e.g., for high-speed trains and fuel cells) and national manufacturing innovation centers (e.g., for advanced printing and dyeing, high-end intelligent home appliances, and virtual reality), as well as national industrial innovation centers. Actively seek to establish new national-level innovation platforms, build a number of high-level innovation units, and create industry chain collaborative innovation platforms and innovation hubs.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

15. Improve the system of manufacturing innovation centers. National Manufacturing Innovation Centers: Build the National Advanced Dyeing and Printing Technology Innovation Center, the National High-End Smart Home Appliance Innovation Center, and the National Virtual Reality Innovation Center (Qingdao) to high standards. Guide these centers to address strategic needs for manufacturing innovation and development, achieve breakthroughs in cutting-edge and key generic technologies in priority fields, strengthen industrial public service capabilities, provide key generic technologies to the entire industry, and effectively enhance manufacturing innovation capacity. (Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

Provincial Manufacturing Innovation Centers: Encourage eligible enterprises in strategic emerging industries, leading enterprises in advantageous industrial clusters, and “chain-leading” enterprises in industrial chains to take the lead in establishing Provincial Manufacturing Innovation Centers. Optimize the layout across the eastern, central, and western regions of the province, as well as across traditional and emerging industries. Guide prefectures and cities that have not yet established Provincial Manufacturing Innovation Centers to focus on cultivating such centers by leveraging local advantageous industries and leading enterprises, aiming to achieve a breakthrough as soon as possible. Prioritize key areas and cultivate centers in stages, establishing a work framework where some are under construction, some are being nurtured, and some are in reserve.(Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

Municipal Manufacturing Innovation Centers: Encourage qualified cities with strong comprehensive capabilities to establish municipal manufacturing innovation centers by leveraging pillar industrial clusters, capitalizing on local specialties, and pooling regional innovation resources. These centers should be established using a “company-plus-alliance” model to serve as a support and supplement to provincial manufacturing innovation centers, thereby forming a tiered cultivation system. Support these innovation centers in playing an active role in aggregating R&D capabilities, achieving breakthroughs in key technologies, fostering industry-academia-research collaboration, and facilitating the transfer and commercialization of research outcomes.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology; Municipal Departments of Industry and Information Technology)

16. Build Public Service Platforms for Industrial Technology Infrastructure. Focusing on the province’s flagship industrial chains and strategic emerging industries, improve the industrial technology infrastructure system and optimize resource allocation. In areas such as testing and inspection, information services, and the industrialization of innovation outcomes, guide the construction of a group of foundational, advanced, authoritative, and public-benefit public service platforms for industrial technology infrastructure. Encourage entities that have undertaken the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s industrial technology infrastructure public service platform capacity-building projects to apply for national-level industrial technology infrastructure public service platforms. (Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

17. Conduct targeted industry-academia-research matching activities. Promote the deep integration of innovation chains, industrial chains, capital chains, and talent chains; strengthen cross-departmental coordination and cooperation; and, centered on the 11 flagship industrial chains, fully leverage the role of the Shandong Industry-Academia-Research Collaborative Innovation Alliance to establish a regular communication mechanism with universities and research institutes both within and outside the province.Facilitate visits by enterprises in flagship industrial chains to universities and research institutes, and by teams of experts and professors to the province’s leading industrial clusters or anchor enterprises. Organize approximately six targeted industry-academia-research matching and new technology/product promotion events annually. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Education, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

18. Streamline the chain of technology transfer and commercialization. Develop high-quality regional technology exchange markets and support eligible entities in establishing proof-of-concept centers and specialized pilot production bases. Improve mechanisms for the registration and publication of scientific and technological achievements. Standardize and refine the registration system for scientific and technological achievements, and establish a mechanism for sharing registered achievements with scientific and technological reports. Regularly publish a provincial catalog of products resulting from the commercialization of major scientific and technological achievements, establish a provincial database of outcomes from science and technology programs, and ensure that scientific and technological achievements supported by public funds are included in the database.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

19. Ensure the Solid Implementation of Innovation Policies Benefiting Enterprises. Implement a “no-application-required” mechanism for policies such as post-grant subsidies for R&D investment and the upgrading of small, medium, and micro enterprises to high-tech enterprises, to ensure the rapid delivery of science and technology policy benefits. Explore the establishment of an evaluation mechanism for the implementation of innovation policies benefiting enterprises. Fully implement the policy allowing manufacturing enterprises and science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises to claim a 100% pre-tax deduction for R&D expenses, and ensure that high-tech enterprises fully enjoy tax incentives and other relevant policies to stimulate the innovative vitality of manufacturing enterprises.(Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Science and Technology)

(VI) Action Plan for the Development and Upgrading of Future Industries

20. Accelerate the development of future industries. Research and formulate the Shandong Province Action Plan for High-Quality Development of Future Industries, accelerating the development of frontier fields such as humanoid robots, the metaverse, quantum technology, future networks, carbon-based semiconductors, brain-inspired computing, deep-sea and polar exploration, gene technology, and deep-sea and aerospace development, while advancing the R&D and application of 6G technology.Establish future industry pilot zones in Jinan and Qingdao. By 2025, we aim to build approximately 10 future industry clusters with distinct characteristics and strong innovative capabilities, primarily relying on provincial-level and higher-tier high-tech zones, economic development zones, and other specialized parks. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission)

(7) “Shandong Manufacturing” Brand Enhancement Initiative

21. Jointly build and share the “Good Quality Shandong” brand. Deepen the implementation of quality improvement initiatives to promote the “diversification of product varieties, enhancement of product quality, and creation of brands” in the manufacturing sector.Advance the national pilot program for standardized innovation and development, establish incentive mechanisms for cultivating advanced standards, guide enterprises to strengthen R&D of foundational industrial standards, and actively foster provincial-level technical standard innovation centers. Improve the institutional and standard systems of “Good Quality Shandong,” upgrade traditional bulk consumer goods, cultivate and expand new forms of consumption, and promote the integration of more Shandong-manufactured products into the dual circulation pattern while opening up new markets. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

22. Promote “Made in Shandong · Qilu Fine Products.”Targeting the province’s flagship industrial chains, select approximately 100 “Made in Shandong · Qilu Excellence” products annually to conduct brand promotion and product marketing activities. Organize a series of “Made in Shandong · Qilu Excellence” promotional events, build a dedicated promotional platform, expand marketing channels for Qilu Excellence products, and support enterprises in brand building and product marketing. (Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

23. Showcase “Made in Shandong · Brand Stories.” Fully explore classic stories and case studies from enterprises’ development histories that demonstrate their commitment to high-quality, sustainable development, and reflect distinctive brand narratives regarding quality culture, quality management, quality innovation, brand creation, and brand promotion.Create dedicated sections on official websites, WeChat official accounts, short video platforms, and other online channels to centrally promote and showcase stories that meet the requirements and possess strong public appeal, viral potential, and exemplary value. Fully showcase corporate brand stories and corporate culture to foster the “Made in Shandong” brand image. (Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

24. Launch the “Made in Shandong · Brand Exchange” initiative. Organize the “‘Made in Shandong’ Brand Innovation and Development Conference” targeting key brand cultivation enterprises and companies with outstanding brand innovation achievements. This event will serve as a high-level exchange platform for the innovative development of the “Made in Shandong” brand, covering brand promotion, marketing, and system building. It will systematically showcase the achievements and experiences of our province’s enterprises in brand development, announce the list of companies with outstanding brand innovation achievements, and share these achievements to foster a positive atmosphere for brand promotion and exchange under the “Made in Shandong” banner.(Lead Agency: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

(VIII) Quality Management Enhancement Initiative

25. Accelerate the development of comprehensive quality management systems. Implement enterprises’ primary responsibility for quality, encourage enterprises to appoint Chief Quality Officers and Chief Brand Officers, and integrate quality integrity into the entire production and operation process.Support key industrial chain alliances in strengthening collaborative innovation and coordinated quality management across the entire industrial chain, thereby enhancing the quality standards of industrial and supply chains. Support relevant associations in conducting various quality management activities, such as “Quality Management Groups,” “Trusted Quality Teams,” “Market Quality Credit Rating Evaluations,” and “On-site Management Maturity Assessments,” to enhance the quality awareness and competence of all employees throughout the entire process. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Market Regulation Bureau)

26. Guide and encourage enterprises to adopt advanced quality management methods. Deepen the national and provincial “Quality Benchmark” selection campaigns, identify and distill exemplary practices, and select and recommend a group of national quality benchmarks while establishing a group of provincial quality benchmarks. In collaboration with relevant associations, organize 1–2 provincial quality benchmark experience-sharing events annually to publicize and promote exemplary practices, create a positive demonstration effect, and drive breakthrough improvements in the quality management capabilities of a group of enterprises.(Lead Agencies: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Market Regulation Bureau)

(IX) Standard-Led Improvement Initiative

27. Strengthen the standardization system. Deepen the coordination and integration of standards across the entire industrial chain, supporting enterprises in leading or participating in the formulation and revision of local, industry, national, and international standards. Advance the development of the local standard system by organizing the formulation of relevant standards in fields such as the digital economy, smart manufacturing, green manufacturing, and the Industrial Internet. Promote the high-quality development of group standards, encouraging relevant associations, industry alliances, and other social organizations to research and formulate advanced group standards.Strengthen the promotion and implementation of standards, and support relevant associations and professional institutions in carrying out standardization work for national, industry, and local standards. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

28. Strengthen intellectual property capacity building. Vigorously cultivate intellectual property-intensive industries, guiding emerging industrial chains with competitive advantages and leading enterprises in the sector to enhance intellectual property creation and strategic positioning. Create and build a reserve of intellectual property for key core technologies, form a portfolio of high-value patents with industrial competitiveness, and foster a group of intellectual property-intensive high-tech enterprises.Focus on key core technologies in the manufacturing sector to conduct patent navigation, establish comprehensive industrial roadmaps, and compile lists of key enterprises and outstanding talent in the sector both nationally and within the province, thereby supporting corporate innovation, R&D, and talent development. Promote the commercialization and application of patents, build rapid conversion pathways from patents to products and from products to industries, and foster new economic growth points. (Lead Agencies: Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology)

III. Support Measures

(1) Improve Working Mechanisms. Establish and improve working mechanisms for horizontal coordination among departments and vertical coordination between levels of government. Strengthen synergy and collaboration across regions, departments, and industries to form a framework of resource sharing and coordinated advancement. Enhance communication and cooperation with relevant provincial departments, maintain contact with and provide guidance to municipal bureaus of industry and information technology, innovate coordination mechanisms, and refine policy measures to create a concerted effort to boost the province’s manufacturing innovation capabilities.

(2) Foster a Favorable Environment. Improve the policy and institutional framework, and strengthen legal safeguards in areas such as intellectual property protection, investment and financing, and fair competition. Effectively strengthen the development of industry associations and chambers of commerce. Promote the spirit of scientists, entrepreneurs, and craftsmen to provide high-quality resources and strong momentum for the high-quality development of the manufacturing sector. Organize expert briefings and specialized training sessions to foster a favorable atmosphere that values and supports the development of the manufacturing sector.

(3) Harness the Power of Think Tanks. Leverage the expertise of think tank specialists to provide face-to-face “direct access” consulting services for enterprises—guided by industrial technology innovation needs—in areas such as platform development, research projects, the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, and the promotion and application of new technologies, products, and processes, thereby providing intellectual support for enhancing the province’s manufacturing innovation capabilities.

(4) Intensify Publicity and Promotion. Make full use of various media channels—including radio, television, newspapers, the internet, and social media—to conduct multi-level, multi-format publicity campaigns, encouraging enterprises to adopt a mindset that prioritizes technological innovation. Promote exemplary cases such as those from model enterprises for technological innovation, and increase efforts to publicize innovation policies, innovation culture, and innovation achievements. Vigorously promote the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, and actively foster a positive social atmosphere that respects knowledge and values innovation.