[Photo via The Beijing News]

On April 13, applications for the first batch of 2026 Capital Technological Innovation Vouchers (hereinafter referred to as the "innovation vouchers") were officially opened.

The innovation vouchers are benefit credentials issued free of charge by the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park to technology-based micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as startup teams. They may be used to purchase services such as analysis, testing, inspection, and R&D provided by universities, research institutes, enterprises and other institutions in Beijing that own scientific research facilities and instruments—services carried out using those facilities and instruments—during innovation project R&D. They can also be used to rent computing power resources from open-access institutions for AI large model training during the R&D process.

The innovation vouchers are issued in electronic form on a periodic basis, with a maximum limit of 50,000 yuan per voucher. In this round of application, technology-based micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are not required to submit application materials. The system will automatically verify whether they meet the eligibility criteria for innovation vouchers, and those that qualify may claim vouchers as needed. Startup teams may submit application materials and claim innovation vouchers on their own after confirming, based on the principles of honesty and good faith, that they meet the eligibility criteria. After claiming innovation vouchers, the applicants must complete the registration of their scientific research activities within 15 days. Innovation vouchers for registered scientific research activities shall be valid for a maximum of three months and will automatically become invalid upon expiration.

(Source: Beijing Daily)