Original Title: Implementation Opinions of the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of High-Tech Industrial Development Zones (Parks)
People’s Governments of All Cities, Counties (Cities, Districts), and All Units Directly Under the Provincial Government:
To implement the guiding principles of the State Council’s “Several Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of National High-Tech Industrial Development Zones” (State Council Document [2020] No. 7) and to advance the high-quality development of high-tech industrial development zones across the province (including national high-tech zones, provincial high-tech zones, and provincial high-tech zones under development; hereinafter collectively referred to as “high-tech zones”), the following implementation opinions are hereby put forward.
I. General Requirements
(1) Guiding Principles. We will adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide, faithfully implement the “Eight-Eight Strategy,” strive to build an “important window,” shoulder the mission of achieving self-reliance and strength in science and technology, uphold the principles of “high-quality and innovative development,” focus on high quality, competitiveness, and modernization, deepen institutional and systemic reforms, accelerate the building of a modern economic system, improve the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and enhance independent innovation capacity, industrial competitiveness, leading and radiating influence, and international influence, thereby providing strategic support for Zhejiang to take the lead in forming a new development paradigm.
(2) Development Goals. By 2025, the region will become a demonstration zone for innovation-driven development, a pioneer in high-quality development, and a support platform for the new development paradigm, boldly serving as a trailblazer in scientific, technological, and industrial innovation.
———Demonstration Zone for Innovation-Driven Development. We will attract a cohort of high-level talent and platforms, implement a series of major strategic science and technology projects, conquer a range of key core technologies that underpin industrial and regional development, introduce a new batch of high-tech products that are independently controlled and internationally leading, cultivate a group of science and technology enterprises with international competitiveness, and establish a number of landmark high-tech industrial chains and innovative industrial clusters. The High-Tech Zone’s expenditure on research and experimental development (R&D) will account for approximately 8% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
———A Pioneer Zone for High-Quality Development. Tax revenue per mu in the High-Tech Zone will reach approximately 420,000 yuan. The share of the High-Tech Zone’s industrial added value from enterprises above designated size and the number of high-tech enterprises will both exceed 50% of the provincial total. The share of high-tech industrial added value in the Zone’s total industrial added value from enterprises above designated size will exceed 80%, and labor productivity per employee will reach approximately 500,000 yuan.A green ecological development system has taken shape, with comprehensive energy consumption per unit of industrial value-added remaining at the provincial leading level, positioning the zone as a pioneer in the province’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality efforts.
———A Support Platform for the New Development Paradigm. We will establish a number of provincial-level high-tech zones under development, designate a number of provincial-level high-tech zones, and ensure full coverage of provincial-level high-tech zones in counties with strong industrial bases; we will upgrade a number of national high-tech zones to achieve full coverage in prefecture-level cities. We aim to have five national high-tech zones rank among the top 50 nationwide, with the Hangzhou and Ningbo National High-Tech Zones entering the top 10 nationally and striving to become world-class high-tech parks.
By 2035, high-tech zones will lead the nation in innovation-driven development and high-quality development. A number of globally competitive, high-level modern science and technology parks will be established; key industries will occupy the mid-to-high end of global industrial and value chains; and the modernization of park governance systems and capabilities will be realized. These zones will serve as a vital pillar for our province’s efforts to build a high-level innovative province and a globally advanced manufacturing base.
II. Focus on Enhancing Independent Innovation Capabilities
(1) Building High-Level Science and Technology Innovation Platforms. Actively construct high-level strategic platforms to create innovation hubs in areas of strength. (Responsible Units: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Science and Technology. The unit listed first is the lead unit; the local government where the high-tech zone is located is the responsible entity; the same applies below.) Compile a map of global innovation resources and implement targeted outreach and recruitment. Support the introduction of prestigious universities, research institutes, and research centers, and proactively establish science and technology innovation platforms such as national and provincial key laboratories and technology innovation centers.Support the construction of platforms for generic technology research and transformation, such as industrial technology research institutes. Support leading enterprises in spearheading the establishment of industrial technology innovation organizations, including national and provincial engineering research centers, industrial innovation centers, and manufacturing innovation centers. Give priority to recognizing eligible research institutions as provincial-level new-type R&D institutions. (Responsible units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology)
(2) Guide the Aggregation and Development of High-End Talent. Optimize the talent policy system and establish pilot zones for talent management reform. Deepen the implementation of talent programs such as the “Kunpeng Plan” and vigorously attract high-level talent teams. Support the establishment of fast-track channels for innovation and entrepreneurship by high-level talent, promote the “Talent Code,” and provide preferential policies for talent at all levels.(Responsible Units: Provincial Party Committee Talent Office, Provincial Department of Science and Technology) Deepen pilot programs for industry-education integration and establish mechanisms for collaborative talent cultivation between leading enterprises, universities, and research institutes. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Education) Foreign high-end talent hired by enterprises within high-tech zones who hold senior management or technical positions shall not be subject to age, educational background, or work experience restrictions when applying for work permits, and may be granted a work permit for a maximum period of five years. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology)
(3) Strengthen research and development of key core technologies. Align the innovation chain with the industrial chain to promote industrial chain extension, value chain upgrading, and supply chain integration, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the innovation chain. Develop a portfolio of “game-changing” technological achievements to strengthen the full-chain competitive advantage in core sectors. Support joint research and development of key core technologies centered on leading industries, and advance the application of cutting-edge technologies in critical segments of the industrial chain.(Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology) Encourage the use of methods such as open challenges, merit-based commissioning, and rolling project approvals to improve the precision of scientific research efforts. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology)
(4) Improve the technological innovation service system. Focusing on leading industries, build high-level platforms for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements and comprehensive industrial innovation service complexes to provide full-chain scientific and technological services. Deepen pilot reforms regarding the ownership of scientific and technological achievements generated during employment.(Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology) Intensify efforts to cultivate professional talent such as science and technology consultants and technology brokers to build a hub for the science and technology service industry. Support the establishment of R&D outsourcing and service centers, pilot-scale testing and refinement bases, as well as data centers and industrial internet centers. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology)
III. Fully Stimulating Enterprise Innovation Vitality
(1) Strengthen the Leading Role of Enterprises in Technological Innovation. Support enterprises in establishing innovation platforms such as corporate research institutes and corporate technology centers; support enterprises in taking the lead to form innovation consortia; and establish R&D and intellectual property management systems. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Market Regulation Bureau) Encourage eligible cities and counties to establish an enterprise R&D reserve fund system; guide enterprises to increase R&D investment; include enterprises with high R&D intensity in the list of key support targets; and provide grants and subsidies for R&D expenses.Expand the application of non-tender procurement methods such as first-purchase and subscription procurement, and increase procurement of major innovative technologies, products, and services. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Finance)
(2) Establish a tiered cultivation mechanism for technology enterprises. Cultivate “Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative” (SRUI) “Little Giants,” hidden champions, single-item champions, and “chain-leading” enterprises to achieve a step-by-step upgrade from small to large, and from growth-oriented to platform-based and leading enterprises, thereby creating the main platform for the “double growth” of technology enterprises.Centered around leading enterprises, build an industrial development and technology innovation cluster comprising supporting small, medium, and micro enterprises that mutually reinforce one another; optimize the local innovation environment; and promote integrated innovation across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of industrial chains, as well as among large, medium, and small enterprises. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology)
(3) Improve the SME incubation and nurturing system. Promote the construction of specialized technology enterprise incubators (maker spaces) and university science parks, refine the “maker space–incubator–accelerator” enterprise incubation and nurturing chain, and achieve full coverage of provincial-level and above technology enterprise incubators (maker spaces). Include the cultivation and incubation of technology-based SMEs in the high-quality development evaluation index system for high-tech zones.(Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology) Implement policies such as tax incentives and performance-based rewards for entrepreneurial incubation facilities, and support the organization of innovation and entrepreneurship competitions and other activities. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Tax Bureau)
IV. Cultivating and Strengthening Modern Industrial Clusters
(1) Expand and Strengthen Distinctive Leading Industries. In principle, each high-tech zone should have no more than three leading industries, with a focus on building iconic industrial chains. Deepen the “output-per-mu” reform to promote industrial restructuring, strengthen core functions, and enhance development quality within the zones. Deepen the “chain leader system” to advance the deep integration of industrial chains, supply chains, and innovation chains.Accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system, fostering advanced manufacturing clusters and “rising star” industrial clusters with strong competitiveness and innovation capabilities. Give priority to supporting the development of “factories of the future.” (Responsible units: Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Science and Technology) Carry out patent-driven industrial development initiatives. (Responsible units: Provincial Market Regulation Bureau, Provincial Department of Science and Technology)
(2) Optimize the spatial layout of industrial innovation. Support the establishment of specialized functional zones to create diverse innovation spaces for R&D, technology transfer, investment, and incubation. Achieve spatial connectivity, infrastructure integration, and innovation synergy to promote the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services.(Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission) Adhere to the “integration of production, living, and ecology,” implement organic renewal of industrial parks, improve modern public services and supporting infrastructure, take the lead in building future communities, and create resilient smart parks characterized by the integration of industry and urban areas, a balance between work and residence, ecological livability, and convenient transportation. (Responsible Units: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Natural Resources)
(3) Expand investment in high-tech industries. Implement a series of leading major projects and new technology application initiatives, build diversified application scenarios, and develop new technologies, industries, business models, and modes of operation.Support high-tech zones in building pilot zones for future industries and fostering future industries such as artificial intelligence, bioengineering, quantum science, and brain-inspired chips. Enhance the level of opening-up, conduct targeted investment promotion, and expand effective investment. Support the development of headquarters bases. (Responsible Units: Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Commerce)
V. Comprehensively Deepening Open and Collaborative Innovation
(1) Accelerate Integration into the Global Innovation System. Support the establishment of overseas innovation centers, overseas talent entrepreneurship bases, and international science and technology industrial cooperation parks; encourage the introduction of foreign-funded R&D institutions and international technical talent service agencies; and deeply integrate into global innovation networks and supply chain systems. Support enterprises in participating in the “Belt and Road” Initiative by establishing or acquiring R&D institutions, incubators, and joint laboratories overseas. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Department of Commerce)
(2) Promote Regional Collaborative Innovation and Development. Deeply integrate into the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and actively participate in the construction of the Yangtze River Delta National Technology Innovation Center. Optimize the layout of high-tech zones across the province, developing them into National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zones and core areas for the coordinated and integrated development of the Science and Technology Innovation Corridor.(Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology) Encourage national high-tech zones and eligible provincial high-tech zones to strengthen their radiating and driving effects. Explore approaches such as “one zone, multiple parks,” off-site incubation, “enclave” economies, and partner parks to integrate or take over other parks, thereby creating more innovation communities that are contiguous, synergistic, complementary, and jointly developed. Support high-tech zones in allocating innovation factors across regions to enhance the vitality of market entities in surrounding areas and deepen the integrated development of regional economies and science and technology.(Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Commerce)
VI. Improving the Efficiency of Resource Allocation
(1) Advance institutional and mechanism reforms. Driven by digital reform, take the lead in implementing the new reform paradigm of “Science and Technology Brain + Future Labs,” accelerate the construction of digital parks, and support the exploration of new governance models. High-tech zones will be granted separate quotas to recommend projects for provincial-level science and technology programs, platforms (bases), and talent initiatives.(Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology) Establish a system of authorized item lists to delegate or entrust provincial and municipal-level economic management authorities in accordance with the law. Deepen the “streamlining administration, delegating powers, and improving services” reform, accelerate reforms to the investment project approval system, and implement the enterprise investment project commitment system and the “acceptance with missing documents” system. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Development and Reform Commission) Support eligible high-tech zone development and construction entities in issuing bonds and raising capital through public offerings. (Responsible Units: Provincial Bureau of Local Financial Supervision, Zhejiang Securities Regulatory Bureau)
(2) Strengthen the allocation of land resources. Explore and advance comprehensive spatial governance, make full use of digital platforms for spatial governance, and prioritize meeting the land needs of high-tech industries and scientific research. For revitalized existing construction land within the management scope of high-tech zones, provide incentives in the form of “increase-to-stock linkage” indicators in accordance with regulations.Fully implement the “standard land” system for land supply. Encourage enterprises in the parks to increase their floor area ratios in accordance with regulations. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Natural Resources) Give priority to including eligible major high-tech industrial projects in the provincial list of major industrial projects. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Development and Reform Commission) Encourage local governments where high-tech zones are located to provide certain incentives and subsidies based on the high-tech zones’ fiscal contributions and land transfer revenue. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Finance)
(3) Strengthen financial support. Leverage the guiding role of various government industrial funds and actively attract well-known domestic and international angel funds, venture capital funds, and private equity funds. (Responsible units: Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Bureau of Local Financial Supervision) Encourage financial institutions to increase credit allocation to technology-based enterprises. Support eligible technology-based enterprises in issuing bonds in the interbank market to increase the proportion of medium- and long-term financing. Support financial institutions in providing intellectual property investment and financing services, expanding the scale of intellectual property pledge financing, and developing and improving intellectual property insurance.(Responsible Units: Hangzhou Central Branch of the People’s Bank of China, Zhejiang Banking and Insurance Regulatory Bureau) Leverage the role of financial advisors to help technology-based enterprises make rational use of financial instruments, and support their listing on multi-tiered capital markets such as the STAR Market. Support industrial parks and platforms in issuing “mass entrepreneurship and innovation” incubation bonds, small and micro enterprise bonds, and other instruments to provide financial support to business entities within the zones. (Responsible Units: Provincial Local Financial Regulatory Bureau, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Zhejiang Banking and Insurance Regulatory Bureau, Zhejiang Securities Regulatory Bureau)
(IV) Establish a Green Ecological Development System. Uphold the concept of green development, increase investment in green development, and support the growth of green industries. Significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, and strictly control the entry of high-pollution, high-energy-consumption, and high-emission enterprises.Promote research into cutting-edge low-carbon technologies and industrial upgrading to secure a leading position in carbon peaking and carbon neutrality technologies. For high-tech zones that perform well in meeting targets related to energy control and ecological and environmental supervision, prioritize the allocation of corresponding environmental and energy quotas. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Science and Technology) Increase the weighting of green development indicators for high-tech zones. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology)
VII. Strengthening Organizational Leadership and Management
(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership. Uphold the Party’s unified leadership over the work of high-tech zones. (Responsible Units: Provincial Party Committee Organization Department, Provincial Department of Science and Technology) Relevant provincial departments shall, in accordance with their respective functions, strengthen guidance and services for high-tech zones. The Provincial Department of Science and Technology is responsible for the centralized management of high-tech zones across the province, and shall carry out planning guidance, layout optimization, and overall coordination for high-tech zones.(Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Natural Resources, Provincial Department of Commerce) Local governments where high-tech zones are located shall assume primary responsibility for their construction, standardize the establishment of management structures, strengthen leadership teams and cadre development, and focus on core responsibilities and primary functions in defining roles and positions, while providing adequate policy support in areas such as finance, land use, and finance. Safety responsibilities shall be strictly enforced, with clear designations for work safety management bodies and the full staffing and strengthening of safety supervision and law enforcement forces.(Responsible Units: Relevant municipal, county [city, district] governments)
(2) Improve the management and evaluation system. In accordance with the requirements of “first establishing the designation, then conducting assessments and recognition, and finally dynamically expanding the area,” encourage and guide blocks within various development zones (parks) where high-tech enterprises are concentrated to establish provincial-level high-tech zones. Upon approval by the provincial government, these zones shall be included in the establishment list and publicly announced, and they shall be permitted to use the designation of “Provincial High-Tech Industrial Park” externally. After 3–5 years of development, upon meeting the recognition standards and passing a rigorous assessment, the provincial government shall formally grant the designation.A number of provincial-level high-tech zones will be established in the 26 mountainous counties, implementing differentiated establishment and certification standards to strengthen the role of science and technology in empowering the marine and mountainous economies and to cultivate tax revenue sources. Support will be provided to eligible high-tech zones to apply for expansion of their territorial scope in accordance with procedures, thereby broadening their development space.(Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, Provincial Department of Natural Resources, Provincial Department of Commerce) The Provincial Department of Science and Technology and the Provincial Bureau of Statistics shall jointly formulate (or revise) relevant standards and evaluation and reporting procedures. (Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology)
(3) Improve the mechanism for excellence and competition. Strengthen dynamic monitoring and evaluation of high-tech zones; evaluation results shall be reported to the provincial government for approval before being announced. Those rated excellent in the annual evaluation shall be commended, while those failing the annual evaluation shall receive a yellow card warning. Provincial high-tech zones under development that rank in the top 15% for two consecutive years shall be directly recognized as provincial high-tech zones. Provincial high-tech zones and provincial high-tech zones under development that receive yellow card warnings for two consecutive years shall have their designation revoked or their development eligibility canceled.(Responsible Unit: Provincial Department of Science and Technology) National high-tech zones ranked in the top 50% nationwide and provincial high-tech zones ranked in the top 5 in the province based on annual comprehensive evaluations shall each receive a combined package of provincial science and technology special funds totaling no less than 20 million yuan to support key R&D projects, innovation teams, and innovation platforms. (Responsible Units: Provincial Department of Finance, Provincial Department of Science and Technology)
These Implementation Guidelines shall take effect on July 15, 2021. The “Guiding Opinions of the General Office of the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province on Accelerating the Transformation and Upgrading of High-Tech Industrial Parks” (Zhe Zheng Ban Fa [2012] No. 66), the “Notice of the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province on Carrying Out the Work of Establishing Provincial-Level High-Tech Industrial Parks” (Zhe Zheng Fa [2012] No. 94),the “Notice of the General Office of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government on Issuing the Implementation Plan (Trial) for Establishing a Mechanism to Encourage Provincial High-Tech Industrial Parks to Strive for Excellence and Implement a Delisting and Exit Mechanism” (Zhe Zheng Ban Fa [2014] No. 5) are hereby repealed.
People’s Government of Zhejiang Province
June 10, 2021
(This document is publicly released)
