Original Title: Notice from the Shandong Provincial Department of Science and Technology on Issuing the "Action Plan for Promoting the High-Quality Development of High-Tech Enterprises Across the Province"
This plan has been formulated to thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, the Provincial Party Committee, and the Provincial Government regarding strengthening the role of enterprises as the main drivers of scientific and technological innovation, and to further support and serve high-tech enterprises across the province in achieving high-quality development.
I. General Requirements
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, this plan fully implements the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and deeply advances the innovation-driven development strategy. With the goal of propelling high-tech enterprises to become the leading force in scientific and technological innovation, it focuses on key aspects of cultivating high-tech enterprises and enhancing their innovation capabilities, strengthens targeted policy measures, and promotes both quantitative and qualitative growth of high-tech enterprises across the province.By 2027, the number of high-tech enterprises in the province will reach 50,000, with the average number of valid invention patents per enterprise increasing to approximately 5. These enterprises will become the main force in building a science and technology powerhouse and enhancing the modernization of industrial and supply chains.
II. Key Tasks
(1) Implement the “Nurturing and Strengthening” Initiative for High-Tech Enterprises
1. Establish a full-lifecycle incubation and nurturing system for technology enterprises. Aligned with the provincial layout for the development of advantageous and distinctive industries, strengthen the technology enterprise incubation and nurturing chain comprising “co-working spaces—incubators—accelerators—industrial parks.” Support the establishment of technology enterprise incubators using the “incubation + investment” model and enhance the specialized service capabilities of various innovation and entrepreneurship platforms. Fully leverage the role of high-tech zones as the “main battleground” for cultivating high-tech enterprises to solidify the foundation for their development.
2. Strengthen targeted cultivation of technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Conduct thorough evaluations of national-level technology-based SMEs to foster a cohort of enterprises with distinct “four-tech” characteristics—strong R&D capabilities, advanced technical standards, a concentration of scientific and technological talent, and the ability to develop core technology products—thereby building a reserve pool of high-tech enterprises. Intensify the implementation of the “Innovation Voucher” subsidy policy to reduce innovation costs for technology-based SMEs. Support technology-based SMEs in actively participating in the Provincial Innovation Competition for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises, and provide funding to winning enterprises in accordance with regulations.
3. Implement the Innovation Capacity Enhancement Project for Technology-Based SMEs.Focusing on key sectors, critical segments of strategic emerging industries, and innovation-driven development needs, we will implement the Innovation Capacity Enhancement Project for Technology-Based SMEs. Each year, we will support a group of SMEs characterized by “three highs and one core”—high R&D investment ratio, high compound growth rate, high market share, and possession of core hard technology—to collaborate with universities and research institutes on technological breakthroughs and the commercialization of research outcomes. This will promote the concentration of innovation resources—including talent, technology, and research outcomes—within technology-based SMEs, thereby enhancing their independent innovation capabilities.
(II) Implement the “Innovation and Quality Improvement” Initiative for High-Tech Enterprises
4. Encourage enterprises to continuously increase R&D investment. Provide comprehensive support for high-tech enterprises to carry out R&D activities, promote the establishment of sound R&D management systems, guide enterprises in properly recording R&D expenditure statistics, and improve auxiliary accounts or dedicated financial ledgers for R&D expenditures. For eligible enterprises, implement provincial fiscal subsidy policies for corporate R&D investment in accordance with regulations to reduce innovation costs.
5. Support enterprises in tackling core technological challenges. Adhere to the principle of industry-driven problem-solving, increase the participation and influence of high-tech enterprises in major science and technology projects, and provide selective, focused, and targeted support for their technological R&D efforts.Support high-tech enterprises in focusing on major scientific challenges and critical or weak links within the industrial chain, taking the lead in undertaking major science and technology innovation tasks at the provincial level or above, implementing relevant industrialization demonstration projects, and enhancing their capacity to produce new products, processes, equipment, and materials to boost core competitiveness.
6. Encourage enterprises to establish high-level R&D institutions. Support high-tech enterprises in establishing high-quality innovation platforms such as corporate research institutes and technology innovation centers. Encourage leading enterprises to form innovation consortia with universities and research institutes, actively establish high-level innovation platforms such as provincial-level or higher key laboratories, technology innovation centers, and new-type R&D institutions, build a group of high-level innovation units, and create innovation hubs where high-tech enterprises lead the high-quality development of the industry.
7. Support enterprises in attracting high-level talent. Through initiatives such as high-level talent competitions, the selection of Taishan Industrial Leading Talents, and visits by academicians and experts, support high-tech enterprises in accelerating the recruitment of high-level talent (teams) to provide high-level intellectual support for the enterprises’ high-quality development. Encourage cities to provide support through measures such as matching grants and subsidies in areas including talent recruitment investment, housing subsidies, and project funding for high-tech enterprises.
8. Encourage the creation and commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. Encourage high-tech enterprises to increase investment in innovation resources, engage in high-level inventions and innovations, and cultivate high-value patents. Through provincial and municipal collaboration, we will comprehensively develop the Shandong Science and Technology Market to provide “one-stop” and “ecosystem-based” services for the commercialization of enterprises’ scientific and technological achievements. We will continuously improve the selection and release mechanism for “Shandong’s Best Achievements,” accelerate the establishment of proof-of-concept centers and pilot production bases, and integrate the production, evaluation, and commercialization of major achievements.
9. Promote the cluster-based development of high-tech enterprises. Strengthen performance evaluations of the high-tech industry. Annually select a group of high-tech enterprise benchmarks with strong innovation capabilities and excellent innovation performance to leverage their leading and driving roles in regional industries. Cultivate and consolidate a group of small and medium-sized high-tech enterprises in specialized fields to form innovative industrial clusters characterized by seamless integration across the industrial chain and collaborative development among large, medium, and small enterprises, thereby leading the high-quality development of the regional high-tech industry.
(3) Implement the “Fertile Ground” Initiative for High-Tech Enterprises
10. Strengthen financial support for science and technology. Enhance financing support for enterprises through diversified capital sources, including bank loans, guarantees and insurance, venture capital, and capital markets. Continuously improve risk compensation mechanisms for loans supporting the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, as well as risk-sharing mechanisms for technology guarantees and technology insurance. Expand the scope of pilot reforms for technology equity investment, optimize the functions of the provincial science and technology financial credit enhancement platform, and guide financial institutions to provide full-cycle financial services to high-tech enterprises.Encourage cities to explore the establishment of “whitelists” for high-tech enterprises, guiding banking institutions to strengthen services and financing support for enterprises on these lists. Support high-tech zones in implementing an “enterprise innovation points system,” using quantified points to guide investment and financing institutions in providing targeted support and empowerment to high-tech enterprises.
11. Promote the opening of science and technology resources and application scenarios to enterprises. Increase the openness of major scientific research infrastructure, large-scale scientific instruments, and information resources from scientific reports to enterprises, and incorporate the provision of services to enterprises into the evaluation criteria for provincial-level science and technology innovation platforms.Encourage national supercomputing centers, intelligent computing centers, and similar entities to provide low-cost computing power services to enterprises. Encourage high-tech zones and agricultural high-tech zones at the provincial level and above to publish lists of application scenarios, and support enterprises’ independently innovated products in actively participating in the construction of demonstration application scenarios. Support high-tech enterprises in establishing overseas R&D institutions, offshore innovation and entrepreneurship centers, and other bases, and actively engage in in-depth cooperation in areas such as technology, projects, and talent to enhance their internationalization.
12. Strengthen the promotion and implementation of innovation policies benefiting enterprises. Deepen the optimization of the business environment and vigorously carry out the “Science and Technology Policies Reach Ten Thousand Enterprises” campaign. Coordinate service resources such as deputy heads for science and technology and science and technology special envoys to provide in-depth policy guidance and support to enterprises, ensuring that all eligible enterprises are fully aware of these policies, with the goal of serving over 10,000 enterprises annually. Fully implement the policy on additional tax deductions for corporate R&D expenses and tax incentives for high-tech enterprises, ensuring that all eligible enterprises fully benefit from these policies.
III. Work Guarantees
13. Strengthen Organizational Leadership. High-tech enterprises are the main force driving self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology, as well as a vital force in accelerating the formation of new-quality productive forces. Science and technology departments in all cities must adopt a holistic and strategic perspective, placing the task of promoting both quantitative and qualitative growth of high-tech enterprises at the forefront of science and technology innovation efforts. They should study specific implementation measures based on local conditions, proactively plan and advance initiatives, and efficiently drive the high-quality development of high-tech enterprises.
14. Optimize Policy Support. Municipal science and technology departments must take the initiative and plan ahead to support the high-quality development of high-tech enterprises. They should continuously optimize relevant support policies and service measures, strengthen the coordination and integration of innovation policies, talent policies, and high-tech enterprise policies, and enhance the efficiency of integrated allocation of projects, platforms, talent, and funding.
15. Strengthen Publicity and Guidance. Municipal science and technology departments should cooperate with the Provincial Department of Science and Technology to enhance the publicity and interpretation of this action plan and related enterprise innovation policies. They should promptly summarize and publicize the outstanding achievements and exemplary experiences in the development of high-tech enterprises, thereby fostering a favorable social environment to guide enterprises in increasing R&D investment and achieving high-quality development.
