Press Release for Media Briefing of the Shanghai Municipal Government on May 22, 2025

2025.05.22

On the afternoon of today (May 22), the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held a press briefing. Zhai Jinguo, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, introduced the latest “Several Opinions on Further Deepening Reform and Innovation to Accelerate the High-quality Development of the Science and Technology Service Industry” issued by Shanghai. Wang Yiyang, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, Wei Lan, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Intellectual Property Administration, Chen Xin, vice chair of the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, and Zhang Tong, deputy director of Pudong New Area Science, Technology and Economy Commission, attended the briefing and answered questions from reporters.I. BackgroundThe science and technology service industry is an emerging sector that leverages modern scientific knowledge and technological tools to provide intellectual services across the entire chain of scientific and technological innovation. It plays an essential and irreplaceable role in this innovation ecosystem. Serving as the “glue” for achievement transfer and transformation, the “catalyst” for the cross-sector integration of science, technology, and industry, and the “accelerator” for the flow of innovation factors between science, technology, and the economy, this industry is vital to fostering innovation. For Shanghai, the science and technology service industry is a key driver in enhancing the city’s capacity as a source of scientific and technological innovation and advancing its development into a global innovation hub.In recent years, as the innovation chain has undergone accelerated restructuring and scientific research paradigms have evolved significantly, the science and technology service industry has entered a period of rapid growth. A new ecosystem is taking shape, marked by the deep integration of diverse service formats, including R&D, inspection and testing, scientific and technological consulting, technology transfer and commercialization, proof-of-concept and startup incubation, sci-tech finance, intellectual property services, data and information management, and talent development.To further accelerate the high-quality development of the science and technology service industry, Shanghai recently released the “Several Opinions on Further Deepening Reform and Innovation to Accelerate the High-quality Development of the Science and Technology Service Industry” (hereinafter referred to as the Several Opinions). This policy document aims to guide the industry’s growth through institutional innovation, with a focus on three key reform directions: systematization, integration, and synergy. Systematization emphasizes support across the full innovation cycle — from R&D and proof-of-concept to incubation and industrialization — covering all service formats. Integration highlights the coordinated application of policy tools to amplify their combined impact. For example, fiscal support, tax incentives, financial services, and talent-related policies are designed to work in tandem, tailored to the evolving needs of enterprises at different stages of development. Synergy calls for stronger cross-departmental coordination and collaboration among stakeholders, including government, enterprises, universities, and professional societies, to foster a shared, open, and dynamic innovation ecosystem.II. Main CharacteristicsThe Several Opinions focus on strengthening the role of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation, addressing key gaps in the innovation chain, enhancing operational mechanisms, and building a comprehensive service system that supports the entire innovation process. The core of this reform lies in three priorities: empowering main entities, bolstering the innovation chain, and transforming mechanisms.“Empowering main entities” refers to reinforcing the dominant role of businesses in innovation. The policy encourages and guides enterprises to increase their investment in science and technology services, thereby enhancing the overall development level of the industry. It aims to cultivate a group of leading science and technology service brands known for high service quality, strong innovation capabilities, and significant industry impact. At the same time, it supports enterprises in extending their service chains, achieving cross-sector integration, and improving their capacity for intelligent, integrated, and platform-based services, while also encouraging their international expansion.“Bolstering the innovation chain” focuses on fostering full-process innovation and accelerating development across the entire chain by addressing key links. This includes strengthening the dual validation of technological feasibility and market potential, and streamlining critical stages such as proof-of-concept, pilot-scale maturation, start-up incubation, and industrialization. The reform also calls for deepening governance improvements in scientific societies and associations, strengthening science and technology consulting services and think tank development, and advancing reforms in sci-tech journal publishing.“Transforming mechanisms” is aimed at supporting the high-quality development of the science and technology service industry by continuously refining support, management, and service mechanisms. For example, the reform promotes the implementation of an open licensing system for patents to facilitate easier authorization and the release of demand lists to create more application scenarios for market players. It seeks to establish a credit-based, tiered supervision model that enables “unfelt” regulation, minimizing burdens on enterprises. Additionally, it advocates for the expansion and diversification of innovation vouchers, the adoption of a “no application, automatic entitlement” model to enhance accessibility, and the simplification of approval processes for science and technology exhibitions, forums, competitions, and related activities.III. Main ContentsThe Several Opinions introduce a reform package comprising 16 measures and 39 tasks, structured around three key dimensions: the supply side, the demand side, and the enabling environment.On the supply side, seven measures aim to enhance the quality of science and technology services. First, the plan promotes broader access to scientific and technological innovation resources by expanding public availability of major research infrastructure and large-scale scientific instruments. It also proposes piloting a “Science Data Bank” to support the vertical application of big data and foundation models in specialized research areas. Second, it seeks to innovate the construction and operational models for proof-of-concept by establishing a coordinated layout mechanism that links the “Future Industry Fund,” high-quality incubators, proof-of-concept centers, and industrial clusters. Third, the reform deepens improvements in scientific and technological societies and journals, with the goal of fostering a diversified, open, and dynamic ecosystem. This includes enhancing professional service capabilities and developing first-class journals with international influence. Fourth, the city will strengthen science and technology consulting services and the development of think tanks by building collaborative research networks that bring together experts in hard technologies, social sciences, and management. Fifth, the plan accelerates reforms in the training of professional and technical talent, promoting diversified and multi-level programs tailored to emerging industries. Sixth, the city will advance the transformation and application of intellectual property by deepening the open licensing system for patents and expanding pilot programs for IP securitization. Seventh, the city will encourage the cultivation of new formats and models in science and technology services, including the establishment of open and preferential access mechanisms for computing facilities and the promotion of innovative models such as online testing and intelligent detection via the Internet of Things.On the demand side, four measures are proposed to drive market upgrading. First, efforts will be made to accelerate the development and opening of application scenarios by releasing a list of science and technology service needs, stimulating market demand, and promoting the creation of “first-of-its-kind” demonstration projects for science and technology services. Second, support mechanisms for public research funding and innovation vouchers will be optimized, with proof-of-concept, technology insurance, patent agency services, and technology consulting included within the scope of eligible expenditures for innovation vouchers. Third, the opening-up of the science and technology service industry will be expanded by encouraging the entry of more internationally renowned science and technology service providers and the introduction of diversified service formats. Fourth, the global competitiveness of the industry will be enhanced by supporting contract R&D institutions in aligning with international standards and advancing mechanisms for mutual recognition of research outcomes.In terms of the enabling environment, five measures have been introduced to strengthen the foundational support for science and technology services. These include building a stronger talent pool, optimizing the management of cross-border flows of scientific research data, supporting enterprises in financing and in efforts to reduce costs and improve efficiency, enhancing brand development within the science and technology service sector, and refining the mechanisms that promote the industry’s overall growth.