Original Title: Notice from the Office of the Urumqi Municipal People’s Government on Issuing the “Three-Year Action Plan for the Development of High-Tech Enterprises in Urumqi (2023–2025)”
To earnestly implement the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 12th Municipal Party Committee and the Conference on Science and Technology Innovation, to effectively advance innovation-driven development, to accelerate the construction of a National Open and Collaborative Innovation City, the Urumqi-Changji-Shanshan National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, and the Silk Road Economic Belt Innovation-Driven Development Pilot Zone, to strengthen the leading role of enterprises, to promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries through the application of science and technology, to foster high-tech enterprises, and to accelerate the cultivation of momentum for high-quality development—this Action Plan is formulated in light of the actual conditions of innovation-driven development in our city.
I. General Approach
(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 and the Third Central Symposium on Xinjiang Work. We will thoroughly implement the innovation-driven development strategy,We will adhere to the “Four Orientations” of scientific and technological innovation, practice the new development philosophy, integrate into the new development paradigm, and take promoting high-quality economic development as the main thread. Focusing on the development of our city’s industrial systems—including equipment manufacturing, energy and chemicals, new materials, and new energy—we will strengthen the leading role of enterprises in innovation. By taking the cultivation of high-tech enterprises as a key lever, we will foster an ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship, develop and expand a group of technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises and leading enterprises in scientific and technological innovation that possess strong innovation capabilities and good growth potential, and strengthen the core forces driving high-quality economic development, thereby providing strong support for building a new development paradigm for the capital city.
(2) Action Objectives
We will steadfastly regard innovation as the primary driving force for development, fostering and supporting the growth of technology enterprises—particularly high-tech enterprises and leading enterprises in scientific and technological innovation—to form high-tech industrial clusters. By 2023, the total R&D (Research and Experimental Development) expenditure across society will increase by 20%, the value of technology contract transactions will rise by 20%, 80 new high-tech enterprises will be established (bringing the total to 600), and the operating revenue of high-tech enterprises will exceed 150 billion yuan;Three new comprehensive science and technology innovation complexes will be established, and three new national-level mass entrepreneurship and innovation platforms will be added; the “challenge-based recruitment” system will be implemented to achieve breakthroughs in a number of critical “bottleneck” core technologies; the program for attracting and cultivating leading talent in innovation and entrepreneurship will be optimized, and the “Hongshan Science and Technology Innovation Expert Service Group” will be formed to serve more than 30 technology enterprises; an annual conference on cross-regional collaborative innovation will be held to preliminarily establish a new mechanism for science and technology innovation and industrial synergy within the Urumqi metropolitan area.
By 2025, the total R&D (Research and Experimental Development) expenditure as a percentage of GDP will reach over 2%, the annual transaction value of technology contracts will exceed 500 million yuan, and the number of high-tech enterprises in the city will exceed 760;construct at least 8 science and technology innovation complexes, with the number of national-level mass entrepreneurship and innovation platforms reaching over 50; build a more efficient and comprehensive cross-regional collaborative innovation system; establish the Urumqi Metropolitan Area as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and creation; and strive to achieve operating revenue of high-tech enterprises exceeding 200 billion yuan, making them a key driving force for high-quality economic development.
II. Key Tasks
(1) Deepen the Integration of Industrial and Innovation Chains to Develop and Strengthen High-Tech Enterprises
Addressing the urgent need to expand, strengthen, and enhance the competitiveness of our city’s industrial systems—including equipment manufacturing, energy and chemicals, new materials, and new energy—we will focus on high-tech enterprises as the main drivers. We will intensify the development of key and core industrial technologies, overcome technological shortcomings in the industry, and break through technical bottlenecks in industrial transformation, upgrading, and cultivation. We will support enterprises in benchmarking against international industry leaders to advance technological upgrades, comprehensively improving product technology, process equipment, energy efficiency, and environmental performance.We will plan major projects for original industrial innovation to drive the transformation and upgrading of industrial development toward high-end, intelligent, and green directions, thereby fostering the growth and expansion of high-tech enterprises.
(2) Deepen the integration of industry and urban development to establish a spatial layout for high-tech enterprise development
Coordinate resource allocation and improve both physical infrastructure and the business environment. Using high-tech enterprises as the driving force, support key areas within the city in achieving specialized, high-end, and green development, forming a spatial layout characterized by “prioritizing key areas, fostering collaborative innovation, and pursuing differentiated development.”Comprehensively consider each region’s industrial foundation, functional positioning, and resource endowments to promote coordinated development across all regions. All districts (counties), as well as the International Land Port Area, the Airport Economic Zone, and the Urumqi Comprehensive Bonded Zone, must expedite the formulation of corresponding industrial development plans or implementation schemes for the high-tech sector, thereby establishing a spatially integrated development pattern for high-tech enterprises characterized by coordinated planning and distinctive development.
(3) Coordinate the allocation of industrial resources in the high-tech sector and guide the allocation of high-quality resources to technology enterprises
All districts (counties) and key areas must intensify efforts to attract investment and talent, support talent recruitment through projects, and formulate differentiated, customized policies for attracting talent and projects. By leveraging high-quality industrial parks, they should attract domestic and international universities, research institutes, renowned research organizations, leading enterprises, and high-growth innovative enterprises to establish operations. Aligning with the priorities of high-tech industrial development, they should precisely locate science and technology innovation platforms such as new R&D institutions, key laboratories, and technology innovation centers, and accelerate the construction of industrial collaborative innovation service platforms including experimental testing platforms, science and technology information platforms,technology transfer platforms, and other industrial collaborative innovation service platforms. We will build a group of smart, eco-friendly high-tech industrial parks with precise positioning, comprehensive supporting facilities, and integrated industry-city and industry-education development, thereby creating clusters of high-tech enterprises.
III. Special Initiatives
(1) Expanding the Scale of High-Tech Enterprises. Conduct a comprehensive survey of enterprises above a certain scale and those operating in high-tech sectors, refine the high-tech enterprise cultivation database, and implement tiered cultivation programs for high-tech enterprises. Provide post-grant incentive support to certified high-tech enterprises, awarding 100,000 yuan to enterprises certified for the first time and 50,000 yuan to those recertified. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, all districts (counties)]
(2) Stimulate the Source of Technology Enterprise Incubation. Focus on strengthening the development of innovation and entrepreneurship incubation platforms. Accelerate the construction of technology enterprise incubators, maker spaces, and “Star Innovation Spaces,” among other innovation incubation platforms, to incubate and nurture technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises.We will steadily advance the development of innovation and entrepreneurship platforms such as National Innovative Industrial Clusters, National “Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation Demonstration Bases,” National Specialized Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation Platforms, and National Torch Program Specialized Industrial Bases, striving to cultivate and attract a group of technology-based SMEs possessing core and key technologies. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, all districts (counties)]
(3) Cultivating Leading Science and Technology Innovation Enterprises. Establish a tiered cultivation mechanism for “technology-based SMEs—high-tech enterprises—leading science and technology innovation enterprises.” Each year, select a group of enterprises that rank at the top, possess leading technological capabilities, and demonstrate outstanding innovation capacity. Focus on science and technology, fiscal and tax, and financial policies to encourage accelerated development through technological innovation, thereby fostering them into leading science and technology innovation enterprises that drive industry development. Provide a 3 million yuan reward to leading science and technology innovation enterprises that successfully go public.[Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, all districts (counties)]
(4) Actively attract technology enterprises. Prioritize investment promotion in key high-tech industries. Focusing on future industries, consumption upgrades, import substitution, and industrial relocation, we will utilize cluster-based, industrial chain-based, “enclave economy,” and “remote incubation” approaches to ensure that every project introduced cultivates a leading enterprise and forms a high-tech industrial cluster.New research and production projects in the high-tech sector established by high-tech enterprises settling in our city will be given priority for inclusion in the municipal science and technology innovation development fund’s reserve enterprise database and for recommendation for support under autonomous region-level technology innovation and technology transfer projects.High-tech enterprises relocating their entire operations from outside the region to our city will receive a one-time incentive of 200,000 yuan during the validity period of their qualification; high-tech enterprises from outside the region that establish R&D or production subsidiaries with independent legal person status in our city will be directly included in the high-tech enterprise reserve pool for guidance and support. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, all districts (counties)]
(5) Building Technology Enterprise Clusters. The growth of high-tech enterprises will be established as a key evaluation indicator for innovation-driven development in the three national-level development zones: the Economic and Technological Development Zone (Touyunhe District), the High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Xinshi District), and the Ganquanbao Economic and Technological Development Zone (Industrial Zone), with the aim of creating hubs for high-tech enterprise development.Include the number of newly added high-tech enterprises in the current year and the total number of high-tech enterprises within their validity period in the year-end quantitative performance evaluation system for innovation-driven development in each district (county). Regularly monitor each district (county)’s progress toward meeting high-tech enterprise targets, and award bonus points in the year-end assessment to districts (counties) that perform well. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Statistics; all districts (counties)]
(6) Enhance the industrial foundation capabilities in the high-tech sector.Adhering to the direction of advancing the industrial foundation, we will implement the Industrial Foundation Restructuring Project, establish a tiered cultivation mechanism for “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” enterprises, create a database of key enterprises for cultivation, tailor support policies to their specific needs, and provide follow-up and liaison services. We will support a group of technology enterprises to become “single-champions” in their respective niche fields, support a group of growth-stage enterprises to expand and strengthen their operations, and support a group of promising enterprises to rapidly meet the criteria for inclusion in official statistics. [Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Statistics, all districts (counties)]
(7) Expand and Extend Industrial Chains in High-Tech Fields. Increase policy support for major industrial projects and key industrial parks; accelerate the construction of major industrial projects within the three national-level development zones—the Economic and Technological Development Zone (Touyunhe District), the High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Xin Shi District), and the Ganquanbao Economic and Technological Development Zone (Industrial Zone)—as well as the Urumqi Comprehensive Bonded Zone; comprehensively plan and advance the construction of high-tech industrial bases; and build industrial chains of strategic and overarching significance.Select 1–2 leading enterprises in the high-tech sector and concentrate efforts on supporting their expansion into core areas of the industrial chain, while actively encouraging them to pursue mergers and acquisitions and prepare for initial public offerings (IPOs).Support upstream and downstream enterprises in strengthening industrial synergy and technical collaboration to tackle key challenges, thereby enhancing the resilience of industrial chains and elevating their overall standards. [Responsible Units: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Financial Office, Economic and Technological Development Zone (Touyunhe District), High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Xin Shi District), Ganquanbao Economic and Technological Development Zone (Industrial Zone), Urumqi Comprehensive Bonded Zone]
(8) Establish a long-term mechanism for targeted innovation services for enterprises. For innovation and startup enterprises, regularly organize training sessions on the application and re-certification of high-tech enterprises, focusing on interpreting application policies and key considerations in the application process.For mature enterprises, provide focused guidance on standardizing corporate R&D management systems, maintaining auxiliary ledgers for R&D project expenses and high-tech products, and managing intellectual property. Collaborate with relevant departments such as taxation and market regulation to conduct comprehensive reviews of enterprise application materials, assist enterprises in refining their submissions, and support them in establishing R&D and innovation systems. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Market Supervision Administration, Municipal Taxation Bureau]
(9) Enhance enterprises’ capacity for science and technology innovation services. Focusing on cultivating growth points in high-tech industries, supporting technological innovation among science and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, and promoting the integration of science and technology with finance, we will thoroughly implement the “Hongshan Science and Technology Innovation Voucher” program. We will develop specialized science and technology innovation service agencies and technology business incubators to drive the transformation and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements.Encourage specialized science and technology innovation service providers—including those in R&D design, testing and inspection, technology finance, business incubation, technology consulting, intellectual property, and high-tech enterprise certification—as well as intermediary agencies such as legal, tax, and business consulting firms, to provide professional services to assist enterprises in their transition to high-tech enterprises.Reward and support relevant service providers and technology business incubators based on their performance. Through the “Hongshan Science and Technology Innovation Voucher” post-subsidy mechanism, a reward of 5,000 yuan will be granted for each enterprise successfully assisted in becoming a high-tech enterprise, with a maximum reward of 100,000 yuan. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Financial Affairs Office, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Market Supervision Administration, Municipal Taxation Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau]
(10) Focus on Innovation by Enterprise Science and Technology Talent. Implement the enterprise science and technology specialist system, enhance independent innovation capabilities through collaboration, proactively plan and actively utilize existing science and technology enterprise resources, and leverage cross-regional collaborative innovation mechanisms to attract innovative talent from both within and outside the region to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship in our city. Select talent from both within and outside the region who are conducting scientific and technological innovation in local enterprises, and provide subsidy support based on the effectiveness of their guidance and service in assisting enterprises with innovation and entrepreneurship. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Party Committee Organization Department]
IV. Policy Measures
Strengthen organizational implementation by systematically planning in areas such as technology, funding, talent, market access, regulation, standards, and intellectual property. Adopt a multi-pronged approach, pursue continuous reform, and foster sustained innovation to comprehensively build a first-class innovation and development ecosystem, thereby promoting the accelerated growth and expansion of high-tech enterprises.
(1) Establishing a Comprehensive and Efficient R&D Support System
Focusing on the construction of major innovation platforms and carriers, we will pool high-end innovation resources to establish a technology innovation system centered on enterprises, market-oriented, and featuring deep integration of industry, academia, and research, thereby fostering a leading force in scientific and technological innovation.We will encourage and support enterprises, universities, and research institutes to engage in industry-academia-research collaboration. We will support the establishment of a number of major national and autonomous regional-level innovation platforms and carriers, including technology innovation centers, engineering technology research centers, engineering laboratories, key laboratories, enterprise technology centers, industrial design centers, quality inspection centers, industrial metrology and testing centers, and industrial technology innovation alliances. We will support enterprises in undertaking national and autonomous regional-level science and technology programs (special projects) and in participating in or initiating key programs for the development of core technologies.Establish a series of functional platforms for the R&D, testing, pilot production, and application of generic technologies, and build a full-chain basic scientific research and innovation application platform system in the high-tech sector. Accelerate the establishment of new R&D institutions, such as industrial technology research institutes and industrial cluster collaborative innovation centers, that are oriented toward market demand. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Finance Bureau]
(2) Improve the Diversified Financial Support System for Science and Technology Enterprises
Establish a mechanism for the stable growth of fiscal science and technology investment at both the municipal and district (county) levels, continuously increasing the proportion of science and technology expenditure in total fiscal expenditure. Establish a special fund for the development of high-tech enterprises, utilizing support methods such as direct grants, equity investment, loan interest subsidies, and risk compensation to accelerate the establishment of a market-oriented, targeted, and diversified special fund support system.Fully leverage the role of municipal funds such as the Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Development Fund, adhere to market-oriented operations, and leverage social capital to establish sub-funds for technology transfer, seed capital, angel investment, and venture capital.Leverage the strengths of all districts (counties), particularly the three national-level development zones—the Economic and Technological Development Zone (Touyunhe District), the High-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Xinshi District), and the Ganquanbao Economic and Technological Development Zone (Industrial Zone)—to support districts (counties) in enhancing their science and technology financial service capabilities and accelerate the establishment of a comprehensive, networked science and technology financial service system.Establish and improve cooperation mechanisms among government, banks, investment firms, and enterprises, as well as multi-party risk-sharing mechanisms. Organize high-quality “Pre-IPO and Listing Enterprises Visit the Stock Exchange” events to encourage technology enterprises to pursue direct financing through multiple channels. [Responsible Units: Municipal Financial Affairs Office, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission]
(3) Improve Mechanisms for Attracting, Cultivating, and Developing Innovation Talent
Optimize the special program for attracting and cultivating leading talent in innovation and entrepreneurship; establish the “Hongshan Science and Technology Innovation Expert Service Group”; build the “Hongshan Silk Road Talent Big Data Platform”; enhance the capacity for multi-level and diversified talent supply; improve the evaluation system for science and technology talent; and establish a value distribution mechanism for innovation factors to stimulate the innovative vitality of talent.Establish a demonstration site for industry-education integration in talent cultivation at Urumqi Vocational University. Based on industrial, technological, and talent needs, guide universities, research institutes, and vocational schools to adjust and optimize their majors and curricula. Promote paired cooperation among universities in Urumqi and school-enterprise partnerships, improve the vocational education and professional technical training systems, and jointly build talent cultivation bases and practical training bases.Adhere to a pragmatic talent selection and appointment mechanism; implement a distribution mechanism oriented toward the value of knowledge; improve the talent evaluation system based on innovation capacity, quality, effectiveness, and contribution; resolutely eliminate the negative “four-only” orientation; and foster an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation. [Responsible Units: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Municipal Education Bureau, Municipal Association for Science and Technology, Urumqi Vocational University]
(4) Strengthen the Protection and Management of Enterprise Intellectual Property and Standards
Strengthen intellectual property protection, establish a comprehensive framework for intellectual property protection, enhance the coordination between administrative and judicial protection, and significantly increase the severity of penalties for infringers.Enhance intellectual property management capabilities and accelerate the development of industrial intellectual property operation centers. Explore expanding the scope of intellectual property that can be used as collateral to further broaden corporate financing channels. Strengthen guidance on the global patent portfolio strategy for enterprises. Support enterprises in participating in or leading the formulation of international and domestic standards, and establish industry standards and brand recognition for high-tech enterprises in the high-tech sector. [Responsible Units: Municipal Market Supervision and Administration Bureau, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Financial Affairs Office, Municipal Intermediate People’s Court]
V. Implementation
(1) Strengthening Organizational Leadership
Establish and improve a coordination mechanism for high-tech enterprises characterized by “top-down and bottom-up coordination and multi-party collaboration.” Comprehensively oversee the development of high-tech enterprises across the city, coordinate the resolution of major issues arising during implementation, and urge all districts (counties) and relevant municipal departments to properly deploy and implement all objectives and tasks, while advancing major high-tech project construction. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Commerce Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Statistics, and other relevant departments; all districts (counties)]
(2) Ensure Task Implementation
Each district (county) shall formulate corresponding action plans and supporting measures for high-tech enterprises and key tasks in critical sectors, and accelerate the implementation of work tasks specified in the action plans. Efforts shall be made to advance the implementation of industrial policies in the high-tech sector, the construction of major projects, the organization and implementation of various special support programs, as well as the use of special funds and performance evaluations.Strengthen guidance for districts (counties) and key development zones in fostering high-tech enterprises to promote industrial clustering in the high-tech sector. [Responsible Units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau, and other relevant departments; all districts (counties)]
(3) Strengthen Evaluation and Assessment
All departments must treat the promotion of high-tech enterprises and the development of the high-tech sector as a key priority, ensuring it is implemented effectively. They must improve evaluation and assessment mechanisms as well as supervision and inspection mechanisms to ensure the full implementation of the aforementioned measures.In accordance with the autonomous region’s innovation-driven assessment requirements, incorporate the development status of high-tech enterprises into the city’s annual innovation-driven (performance) assessment indicator system as a key component; the Municipal Bureau of Statistics shall take the lead in improving the statistical accounting and calculation system for high-tech enterprises and industries in high-tech fields, providing support for decision-making and supervision and assessment regarding the development of high-tech enterprises and industries. [Responsible Units: Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Statistics, and other relevant departments; all districts (counties)]
This plan shall take effect on March 1, 2023, and remain valid for three years.
