Original Title:
Department of Industry and Information Technology of Shandong Province, Development and Reform Commission of Shandong Province, Department of Education of Shandong Province, Department of Science and Technology of Shandong Province, Department of Public Security of Shandong Province, Department of Finance of Shandong Province, Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Shandong Province, Department of Natural Resources of Shandong Province, Department of Ecology and Environment of Shandong Province, Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Shandong Province, Department of Water Resources of Shandong Province, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shandong Province, Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, Department of Emergency Management of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, Civil Aviation Administration of China Shandong Safety Supervision Bureau
Notice on Issuing the "Implementation Plan for High-Quality Development of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Industry in Shandong Province"
Lu Gongxin Fa [2024] No. 1
To the Bureaus of Industry and Information Technology, Development and Reform Commissions, Education Bureaus, Science and Technology Bureaus, Public Security Bureaus, Finance Bureaus, Human Resources and Social Security Bureaus, Natural Resources Bureaus, Ecological Environment Bureaus, Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureaus, Water Resources Bureaus, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureaus, Commerce Bureaus, Emergency Management Bureaus, and Market Regulation Bureaus of all cities:
With the approval of the Provincial Government, we hereby issue the "Implementation Plan for High-Quality Development of the Shandong Province Drone Industry" to you. Please implement it earnestly in accordance with local conditions.
Shandong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology
Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission
Shandong Provincial Department of Education
Shandong Provincial Department of Science and Technology
Shandong Provincial Department of Public Security
Shandong Provincial Department of Finance
Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security
Shandong Provincial Department of Natural Resources
Shandong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment
Shandong Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development
Shandong Provincial Department of Water Resources
Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Department of Commerce of Shandong Province
Shandong Provincial Department of Emergency Management
Shandong Provincial Administration for Market Regulation
Civil Aviation Administration of China, Shandong Safety Supervision Bureau
January 26, 2024
Implementation Plan for the High-Quality Development of the Shandong Province Drone Industry
UAVs are an emerging technology that has developed rapidly in recent years. They have been widely applied in areas such as personal consumption, agricultural and forestry plant protection, land surveying and mapping, smart cities, and environmental monitoring, and are becoming a key industry driving new frontiers in manufacturing and new models of consumer services.The province’s UAV industry possesses a certain manufacturing foundation, but there are still shortcomings and weaknesses in terms of industrial scale and innovation capacity. To seize the strategic opportunities presented by intensive innovation and rapid growth in the UAV sector, and to support the development of the low-altitude economy, the following plan is formulated to promote the high-quality development of the province’s UAV industry, based on actual working conditions.
I. General Requirements
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will seize the major opportunities presented by the national promotion of the general aviation industry and the development of the low-altitude economy. By fully leveraging our advantages in resources, industrial leadership, and application scenarios, we will adhere to a model centered on enterprises and guided by the market, benchmark against advanced standards, strengthen industrial technological innovation and enterprise cultivation, and promote the systematic, scaled, and distinctive development of our province’s UAV industry.
We aim to ensure that by 2025, the provincial UAV industry ecosystem will be continuously improved, and a UAV industry system with Shandong characteristics will be fundamentally established.
— Gradually expanding industrial scale. The UAV manufacturing sector will continue to accelerate its development, while innovative sectors such as comprehensive UAV management services and new cultural and tourism business models will also develop. The total industrial output value will exceed 10 billion yuan, maintaining a rapid growth trajectory. We aim to cultivate approximately 10 leading enterprises with an output value exceeding 100 million yuan each, as well as around 100 high-quality enterprises, including “innovative SMEs,” “technology-based SMEs,” “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises, and “single-champions.”
— Innovation capabilities are steadily improving. We have strengthened testing capabilities for the quality and reliability of UAV products—including safety, environmental adaptability, and electromagnetic compatibility—driving innovation across the entire industrial chain. A number of innovation platforms have been established, such as “One Enterprise, One Technology” R&D centers, innovation centers, and enterprise technology centers. The domestic market share of competitive products—including UAV engines, aerial remote sensing and optoelectronic detection systems, and oblique photography cameras—has steadily increased.
— Accelerated expansion of application scenarios. Breakthroughs have been achieved in drone-derived business models, and application scenarios continue to expand. Enterprises are encouraged to actively participate in the use of drone products and services for smart city development. Seizing the opportunity presented by the pilot program for the innovative application of domestically produced general aviation equipment, we will expand downstream sectors such as drone leasing, maintenance, and training, thereby promoting the innovative development of the low-altitude economy across the province.
II. Main Tasks
(1) Implement the Innovation Capacity Enhancement Initiative. Identify key technological R&D needs in core components, hardware, and intelligent systems for the UAV industry. Projects capable of achieving major technological breakthroughs will be selected for inclusion in provincial science and technology support programs. Support innovative R&D for leading supporting products such as UAV engines, aerial remote sensing, and optoelectronic detection systems to increase their national adoption rate and expand their application fields and scope.Implement the Innovation Capacity Enhancement Project for Science and Technology-Based Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, and intensify research and development efforts on core technologies such as power systems, “UAV+” applications, and the unmanned conversion of manned aircraft. Increase investment in the R&D and application of UAV detection, surveillance, and countermeasure technologies, and accelerate the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. Encourage qualified civilian UAV enterprises to participate in military product R&D, production, and maintenance services. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, etc., to be responsible according to their respective duties)
(2) Implement the Tiered Cultivation Initiative for High-Quality Enterprises. Prioritize key areas and strengthen the recruitment and cultivation of leading UAV enterprises. Establish a comprehensive tiered cultivation system for high-quality SMEs. Aligning with the characteristics of Shandong’s UAV production and application markets, pursue a differentiated development strategy relative to leading national enterprises with significant market share and technological advantages. Deepen expertise in niche sectors and guide enterprises to adopt differentiated product development strategies, fostering a group of leading enterprises in specialized fields such as agricultural and forestry plant protection, firefighting and rescue, and aerial logistics.To address the specific needs of enterprises at different development stages and of various types, local governments are encouraged to leverage regional development strengths to formulate targeted policies for industrial chain investment promotion and technological upgrading of existing enterprises. Support will be provided for UAV enterprises to participate in exhibitions and trade shows, with subsidies offered for booth fees at eligible host-organized exhibitions and key exhibitions organized by various cities, thereby helping enterprises secure orders and expand markets. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Commerce, in accordance with their respective responsibilities)
(3) Implement the Application Scenario Expansion Initiative. Encourage localities and qualified enterprises to promote the use of UAV products in fields such as agricultural and forestry plant protection, natural resource management, land surveying and mapping, urban and rural planning, accident response, emergency rescue, water conservancy inspections, express logistics, construction inspections, river discharge outlet inspections, and drinking water source monitoring.Comprehensively assess the province’s existing product supply capacity to compile a drone supply catalog. Organize promotional activities for typical drone application scenarios to enhance product adaptability and expand the application market. Support eligible drone products in accessing the “first-unit insurance compensation” policy to accelerate their promotion and adoption. Launch pilot programs for the standardized application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in crop protection. For agricultural production and operation organizations engaged in crop protection operations that purchase such UAVs, ensure full implementation of agricultural machinery purchase and application subsidies.Support the Department of Natural Resources in leading the construction of the Shandong Province UAV Integrated Management Service Platform to coordinate provincial UAV resources and promote their widespread application in emergency response, water conservancy, environmental protection, and natural resources sectors. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Public Security, Provincial Department of Natural Resources, Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Provincial Department of Water Resources, Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Provincial Department of Emergency Management, etc., to be responsible according to their respective duties)
(4) Implement the Industrial Cluster Development Initiative. Coordinate the planning and layout of the province’s UAV industry. Support cities, counties (districts) with a solid industrial foundation in establishing UAV industrial parks. Through open cooperation, establish platforms for technical application exchange and demonstration and verification centers for new products and technologies, and support the creation of civil unmanned aerial vehicle test bases (pilot zones), among other initiatives.Fully leverage the foundational strengths of cities such as Jinan, Qingdao, Jining, Rizhao, and Binzhou in industrial support, collaborative innovation, demonstration applications, and talent development. Support joint innovation to build an industrial chain integrating “R&D + manufacturing + services + applications,” and support eligible regions in establishing specialized UAV industrial clusters.Encourage industrial clusters within the province to strengthen cooperation with leading UAV manufacturers and renowned domestic universities and research institutions, and actively seek to attract a number of high-end UAV manufacturing or supporting projects to settle in the region. (Responsible Units: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, etc., to be responsible according to their respective duties)
(5) Implement the Breakthrough Action for Derivative Business Models. Encourage the development of new UAV technologies, business models, and operational formats to drive the development of upstream and downstream sectors in the R&D, manufacturing, and service industries.Support the construction of UAV application infrastructure; encourage local governments to provide corresponding support for public service facilities such as UAV takeoff, landing, parking, and meteorological monitoring. Support the development of service projects such as aerial sightseeing and formation displays, and accelerate the establishment of emerging business models for aerial media. Enrich new business models in the low-altitude economy through measures such as soliciting and promoting excellent solutions for UAV application scenarios. (Responsible Units: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Civil Aviation Administration of China Shandong Safety Supervision Bureau, etc., to be responsible according to their respective duties)
(6) Implement the Action Plan to Strengthen Collaborative Spaces. Deepen industry-academia-research collaboration, encouraging enterprises to work with universities and research institutes on key technological breakthroughs and to jointly establish industry colleges and practical training bases. Focusing on enterprises’ technological innovation needs, fully leverage the role of provincial key laboratories, technology innovation centers, and postdoctoral research stations in attracting talent, advancing research, and facilitating the commercialization of research outcomes. Encourage enterprises to flexibly recruit and utilize various types of talent through project cooperation, part-time employment, and secondments.Support the organization of vocational skills competitions to provide a platform for skilled professionals in the UAV industry to demonstrate their abilities. Foster an innovative and open industrial ecosystem by organizing matchmaking and exchange activities for capable and interested enterprises, actively integrating into the industrial and supply chain ecosystems of large enterprises, strengthening cooperation with UAV enterprises in regions such as the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta, and promoting mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. (Responsible Units: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, etc., according to their respective responsibilities)
(7) Implement the Quality and Standards Enhancement Initiative. Strengthen coordination across the upstream and downstream segments of the UAV industry chain to elevate the quality of the industry and supply chains. Support UAV enterprises in participating in the formulation of group standards and industry standards, carry out standardization projects, and enhance corporate standardization levels.Guide enterprises to conduct relevant testing based on their needs, encourage testing for safety, environmental adaptability, and electromagnetic compatibility, and support enterprises in establishing product inspection systems during the manufacturing process to strictly control product quality and implement safety production responsibilities. Promote the establishment of professional service institutions with testing and verification capabilities and drone testing qualifications, and enhance testing capabilities for key drone components and application systems. (Responsible units: Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, etc., to be responsible according to their respective duties)
III. Support Measures
(1) Strengthen Organizational Guarantees. Establish and improve a work coordination mechanism to effectively fulfill responsibilities for promoting and regulating the development of the UAV industry, and take effective measures to implement the specific tasks outlined in this plan. Enhance interdepartmental coordination and collaboration, strengthen resource integration and sharing, make every effort to secure funding and support from higher-level authorities, and actively promote the resolution of major issues and key challenges arising during the development of the UAV industry. Through technological innovation, simultaneously enhance the inherent safety levels of UAV manufacturers to promote high-quality development of the industry.
(2) Strengthen Talent Support. Support eligible universities within the province in establishing specialized UAV courses to accelerate the cultivation and development of professional UAV talent. Focus on expanding the scope of university-industry cooperation in the UAV sector, support vocational colleges in building practical training bases for technical skills, and cultivate skilled technical personnel for the UAV industry. Attract a group of “high-end, specialized, and scarce” innovative talents and teams from both domestic and international sources, and provide support in areas such as scientific research, children’s education, healthcare, and employee training in accordance with relevant regulations, continuously improving the precision of talent recruitment and its alignment with industry needs.
(3) Expand the Supply of Key Resources. Fully leverage the catalytic role of government-guided funds to strengthen cooperation and matchmaking for eligible drone enterprises and projects, and encourage private capital to participate in drone project investments. Actively guide financial institutions to increase credit support for drone enterprises, and encourage enterprises to secure financing through various channels such as venture capital, equity investment, and bank financing. Strengthen intellectual property protection and credit services, support drone enterprises in brand-building activities, and enhance market competitiveness.
(4) Strengthen Publicity and Guidance. Focusing on supporting the innovative development of the UAV industry, we will continuously optimize support policies and service measures to foster a favorable business environment. We will effectively strengthen industry self-regulation to standardize UAV production and application at the source. We will promote various forms of UAV competitions and science popularization activities to enhance public awareness of UAVs and promote safe usage. We will actively organize various exchange and observation activities to facilitate the replication of exemplary practices across multiple regions, thereby fostering a favorable ecosystem for the development of the UAV industry.
