(January 16, 2015)

The following opinions are proposed to (1) implement the strategic deployments of “promoting innovation-driven development” and “building an innovative nation” made at the 18th CPC National Congress and the 3rd session of the 18th CPC Central Committee; (2) to fully implement the Opinions of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality on Further Institutional and Mechanism Innovations and Accelerating the Construction of National Technological Innovation Center (Jing Fa [2014] No.17); (3) give full play to technology’s role in supporting and leading the construction of Beijing’s sub-center and the district’s economic and social development, and (4) to achieve the goal of “higher-quality development, smaller population and better ecology” at an early date.

I. Guiding Thoughts, Basic Principles and Main Objectives

(I) Guiding thoughts

Formulated under the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of “Three Represents”, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, this Opinions fully implements the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress and the 3rd and 4th plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee as well as the spirit of the important speech made by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection of Beijing. The document aims to further deepen the technological system reform and build the regional technological innovation system that’s focused on enhancing the independent innovation capability and oriented by application more quickly. By comprehensively practicing the innovation-driven development strategy, the Opinions will serve as a powerful bolster and guarantee for building a world-class Beijing sub-center and pushing the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development.

(II) Basic principles

First, launch targeted measures in view of actual conditions with clear priorities. Bearing in mind the real situation of Tongzhou District, its functional positioning as Beijing’s sub-center and its bridgehead role in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development, we will strive for breakthroughs in a range of key links and fields. These key links and fields include developing the system high-grade, precision and advanced industries, improving the demographic structure, building the experimental zone for the “simultaneous development of industrialization, informatization, urbanization and agricultural modernization”, and bettering social governance and ecological development.

Second, intensify market orientation with strong government support. Tongzhou District will fully exert the government’s coordinating role in strategic planning, policy steering, regulation and standards, and supervision and guidance, and the market’s decisive role in resource allocation. By improving the systems, mechanisms and policy measures, the district will actively converge innovative factors, give full play to enterprises as technological innovation entities, encourage them to increase R&D input, and promote the creation and commercialization of technological results, so as to enhance the enterprises’ independent innovation capability and competitive edges.

Third, strengthen the talent team in a people-centered approach. Tongzhou District will move faster to build the technological innovation team and improve the system and mechanisms for the introduction and development of high-end talents, so as to foster a sound environment that respects, appeals to, retains and gives full play to the talents. This will stimulate the talents’ enthusiasm and vitality for creation, innovation and entrepreneurship, turning  Tongzhou  District into a highland that gathers innovative talents and resources at an early date.

(III) Main objectives

By 2020, a market-oriented technological innovation system with enterprises as the main entities and integrating industry, study, research and application will be primarily formed to serve the general goal of building Beijing’s sub-center in the economic, social, environmental and all other aspects. The following objectives will be achieved.

1. Construction of technological system will register substantial progress and basically meet the needs for building the Beijing sub-center. The technological system in Tongzhou District will shift from administrative approach to the comprehensive service approach. Reform of technological system and mechanisms will generate initial effects. At that time, we will have in place an improved technological innovation system and environment, notably enhanced independent innovation capability, and much stronger capability of translating and applying technological results. Technology will play its supportive role in all economic and social aspects.

2. Technology will give a significantly bigger push to industrial restructuring and regional economic development. Enterprises’ independent innovation capability will be greatly improved. The district will rank among top five of the 16 districts of Beijing regarding the ratio of R&D expenditure in GDP. District-level sci-tech expenditure will account for more than 1.3% of its general fiscal budget, and total income from high-tech industries will exceed 70% of total industrial output value. The annual number of patent applications and certifications will reach 5,000 and 3,000. The annual technology transaction volume will reach RMB1 billion, and technological progress will contribute over 65% to the region’s economic development. At that time, technology will play a better role in backing high-end economic development.

3. Technology will further drive social and environmental development as well as urban-rural integration. Tongzhou District will conduct studies on the role that technology plays in bettering social governance, improving demographic mix, accelerating ecological amelioration and speeding up urban-rural integrated development. The study results will be translated into concrete measures to boost breakthroughs in relevant fields and improve scientific management.

4. A high-level innovation team and innovation and entrepreneurship base will be primarily established. A three-tiered technological talent system  will be formed, comprising senior experts, technological foregoers and grassroots technology backbone, and there will be many more enterprise incubators, college science parks and other innovation and entrepreneurship bases. The number of technical personnel every 10,000 people will exceed 150, and the number of invention patents every 10,000 people will exceed 10.

II. Key Contents

Eyeing the overall situation of Beijing sub-center construction and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development, Tongzhou District will further intensify the top-level design and strategic planning for the innovation-driven development strategy, with the focus on establishing and improving the policy, service and talent mechanisms. It is committed to building four major technological support and service platforms for the district’s economic and social development.

(I) Deepening innovations in technological system and mechanisms while working faster to enhance innovation-driven development

1. We will perfect the policy guidance mechanism and boost the endogenous drive of economic and social development.

First, policy incentives will be increased. Multiple policies such as the Provisional Methods of Tongzhou District for Supporting Technological Innovation and Regulations of Tongzhou District on Patent Implementation Projects will be formulated to support technological R&D, translation and commercialization of relevant results, building of innovative teams, and creation and application of independent IP. The purpose is to comprehensively promote the construction of the district’s technological innovation system, propel enterprises to fortify their independent innovation capability and high-tech industrial development, and guarantee the implementation of innovation-driven development strategy.

Second, financing environment will be improved for sci-tech enterprises. Explorations will be made to establish a multi-layered, multi-channel sci-tech investment and financing mode whereby corporate investment takes the lead, government input serves as a guide and financial institutions and private investors all take part. To provide professional services for enterprises in terms of registration and depository, equity financing, private bond financing, equity trading and transfer, Tongzhou District will seek in-depth cooperation with the Zhongguancun technological finance innovative service platform and Beijing Equity Trading Center. A mechanism established by holding meetings to match technology companies’ financing needs with potential investors and promoting bank-enterprise cooperation will effectively match financial institutions with technological enterprises.

Third, commercialization of technological achievements will be expedited. Taking advantage of the capital city’s technological resources, Tongzhou District will establish the tracking and discovery mechanism of technological innovations, and screen them to carry out commercialization feasibility study and IP risk evaluation in a timely manner, so as to better support and serve their translation. On that basis, we will energetically impel the translation and application of cutting-edge technological results that have core independent IP, great market prospects and consist with the district’s industrial positioning, thus boosting the transformation and upgrade of our industrial mix.

2. We will perfect the service mechanism and upgrade the region’s technological innovation landscape.

First, establishing a scientific and rational sci-tech project management mechanism will be. A mechanism will be established where technological innovation projects, fund distribution and evaluation are all decided by the market. The communication and coordination mechanism between technology departments and relevant units will be improved to strengthen the top-level design and macroscopic coordination for technological innovation. The direction and priorities of support for various sci-tech programs and projects will be further clarified. We will better the sci-tech project organization and management mechanism and procedures, and broaden the channels to collect the demands of those projects, putting in place the scientific and rational project formation mechanism, reservation system and performance assessment system. The evaluation and supervision of the decision-making, execution and result translation of sci-tech projects will be reinforced, with special attention paid to the quality of and actual contribution by technological innovation.

Second, constructing the sci-tech agency service system. On the principle of government guidance and market-based operation, sci-tech service organizations will be built and improved more quickly, such as sci-tech enterprise incubators, college science parks and technology transfer institutions. District-level fiscal capital will play a guiding role to lure social investment; development of sci-tech service agencies engaged in R&D and design, inspection and testing, commercial consulting and technical training will be encouraged, supporting the establishment of public technology service platforms, such as IT-based emerging services, services in energy conservation and environmental protection, e-commerce and modern logistics. More financial support will be provided for these service agencies by means of government service purchase in view of their performance assessment. Quicker steps will be taken to develop the technology market, intensify the certification, registration and management of technology contracts, and further implement the favorable tax policies.

Third, putting the IP and standardization strategy into practice. The IP creation, application, protection and management will be reinforced, with the IP service system, working mechanism and policy environment consistent with the construction and development of Beijing sub-center improved. We will encourage units and individuals to apply for domestic and foreign patents and push for the patents’ commercialization, steering the execution in Tongzhou of patented projects with high technological content and great market prospects. Work will be done to promote the pilot and demonstration programs of corporate patents, cultivate enterprises with IP strengths, and urge key enterprises to step up independent innovation and become more market competitive. We will push for IP commercialization and encourage patent proprietors to materialize the market value of IP by means of licensing, transfer, shareholding and pledge. Efforts will also be made to perfect the IP right protection and aid mechanism, formulate standard-related policies, and encourage enterprises to participate in the study and formulation of international, national, industrial and local standards, thus improving their own capability of standard development and application.

3. We will enhance the talent mechanism and form a highland of technological innovation talents

First, building the talent carriers more quickly. Centered on the key areas and projects of building the Beijing sub-center, Tongzhou District will provide a full range of services, covering policy, space, capital, market and management, for the introduction, cultivation, motivation and employment of talents and R&D teams of all types. We will fully tap the talent resources in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, expand the scope of talent services and help enterprises bring in high-caliber industrial leaders and talents.

Second, enhancing cultivation of highly skilled professionals. More efforts will be made to train operating and managerial personnel as well as skillful technicians. The incentive mechanism for technological talents will be perfected and enterprises are encouraged to incentivize backbone technological personnel in key positions by providing stock equities and share options. New ways of rewarding technological achievements and sponsoring and rewarding innovative talents will be created to stimulate their enthusiasm for innovation to the largest extent. We will work hard to foster a social atmosphere that advocates innovation to encourage success and allows for failures.

(II) Building technological support & service platforms, leading the construction of Beijing sub-center across the board

1. The technology support & service platform for “one core and five zones” will be established.

First, supporting the construction of functional zones with cutting-edge technologies. The supportive and leading role of technological innovation in building “one core and five zones” should be brought into full play. As Beijing sub-center will be built on higher standards, cutting-edge technological concepts and achievements are drawn on and applied comprehensively in such areas as low-carbon buildings, energy-saving materials and ecological and environmental preservation. In this way, the “one core and five zones” will highlight its feature of low-carbon ecology and become a pioneer and demonstration zone leading technological development.

Second, supporting the operation and management of functional zones with intelligent information technology. Following the standards for “smart city”, advanced information technologies such as IoT, cloud computing, big data and cloud devices will be promoted in the construction of “one core and five zones”. Cloud technology will be integrated with city operation and industrial development, and emerging information technologies like IoT will be used more quickly in transportation facilities, municipal utility tunnels, community management and buildings. We will build intelligent urban infrastructure to run the city in a more efficient, agile and low-carbon way and further facilitate people’s work and life.

Third, supporting the future development of functional zones with international technological exchanges and cooperation. Considering the demands of the cultural tourism zone, international medical service zone, Songzhuang cultural creativity convergence zone and other functional zones in medical, entertaining and cultural fields, Tongzhou District will contact relevant departments and professional organizations, bring in high-end technological factors, and provide technical services covering consulting, business guidance and project cooperation. We will strongly promote the construction of an international technological cooperation base, and encourage functional zones and enterprises to engage in cooperation programs and projects or form alliance with multinationals and international organizations, with a view to realizing international technology transfer and commercialization in the district.

2. The technology support & service platform for high-end economic structure will be established.

First, reinforcing enterprises’ status as main entities of technological innovation. We will enhance the enterprises’ independent innovation capability and build a market-oriented technological innovation system with enterprises as the main entities and integrating industry, study, research and application. The Beijing Technological Innovation Action Plan (2014-2017) will be implemented in depth to propel independent innovation by enterprises, prompting them to increase R&D input and supporting independent innovation R&D projects. Tongzhou District will encourage and support enterprises with the right conditions to set up R&D institutions and pilot test bases, apply for the title of high-tech enterprises and build high-level R&D centers. We will actively bolster micro, small and medium-sized technological enterprises, intensify the combination of production, study, research and application, and support R&D cooperation between enterprises and colleges and research institutes. We will also build R&D and production consortium and encourage research institutes to join.

Second, boosting the development of industrial parks with technological innovation. Great efforts will be made to develop the high-grade, precision and advanced industries and prompt the transformation, adjustment and upgrade of industrial parks. Continuous innovation in key industries will be boosted and innovative pilot parks and industrial clusters will be cultivated to form a regional innovation demonstration park featuring the close integration of production, study, research and application and notable industrial clusters.

Third, promoting the development of emerging industries with technological innovation. Strategic emerging industries, including electronic information, biomedicine, energy conservation and environmental protection, as well as technological innovation will be energetically developed. The mechanism for technology to underpin their development as pillar industries will be fortified.

Fourth, pushing the development of modern service industry with technologies innovation. Innovation in technological integration and business mode will be strengthened in key areas of modern service industry, and service business forms will be fostered, such as R&D, design, engineering technology and technology agency. Tongzhou District will provide support to a batch of competitive technological service agencies, key enterprises of a certain scale and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in possession of special or proprietary technologies. It will expedite the development of technological service industry, nurture high-end business service clusters, and gradually establish the technological support system for modern service industry.

3. The technology support & service platform for urban-rural integrated development will be established.

First, assisting the simultaneous development of industrialization, informatization, urbanization and agricultural modernization with technological innovation. Taking the opportunity of building the experimental zone for the comprehensive reform of the simultaneous development, Tongzhou District will further improve the mechanism of promoting agricultural and rural development with technology, with a focus on park-based, technological and digital farming. The district will accelerate agro-technological innovation and the introduction, demonstration and promotion of technological achievements, and foster a group of modern agricultural enterprises and distinct agricultural parks driven by technological innovation. Informatization will serve as the booster for new-type industrialization, urbanization and agricultural modernization.

Second, speeding up the construction of international seed science park. We will lead modern agricultural development with modern technology. Leveraged on the technological resources at the National Modern Agricultural Science and Technology City in Beijing, the district will set up the modern breeding R&D platform, cutting-edge technology promotion and demonstration platform, and international seed trading platform. These platforms will provide technological support for integrated “breeding, propagation and promotion” and seed industry development. Great efforts will be made to build the “national seed valley” and world-class agro-technological innovation center, helping Beijing build a national technological innovation center in the agricultural sector.

Third, deepening the “three-in-one” agro-technological service system. Agro-technological innovation and promotion will be accelerated. The “three-in-one” technological service system for agriculture will be promoted across the district, which refers to non-profit promotion, social entrepreneurship, and professional service. The district will provide comprehensive and professional technological services in view of the local agricultural characteristics and the farmers’ actual needs. Agro-technology’s leading and supportive role in urban-rural integration will also be exerted to improve farmers’ lives and the living conditions in rural areas.

4. The technological support & service platform for social governance and environmental improvement will be established.

First, improving social construction and city management with innovation. Tongzhou District will deepen reform and innovation, actively introduce and employ cutting-edge technologies, and establish new mechanisms and modes of social construction and city management. It will strengthen the integrated application, demonstration and promotion of technological achievements in such areas as medical health, public security, food safety, smart transport and emergency management, and mobilize advantageous resources throughout the society to perfect the technological support system at a faster pace. In this way, the level of social construction and lean city management will be raised and technological results will benefit more people.

Second, improving urban and rural environment with technological approaches. In view of a series of key tasks, including the clean air action plan, environmental governance, crackdown on illegal production and operation, and control and adjustment of demographic structure, Tongzhou District will step up technological innovation and speed up the integration, demonstration and popularization of the results. Targeted researches will be carried out for achievements in the thoughts, modes and approaches of management, which will be translated into viable measures and methods.

III. Safeguards

(I) Strengthening organization and leadership

The leading group of sci-tech development of Tongzhou District shall well play its role of leadership and coordination and push the implementation of innovation-driven development strategy across the board. All departments, towns and townships and sub-districts shall, from the perspective of the overall situation, include accelerated strategy implementation in their agenda. They shall earnestly implement relevant policy requirements of the nation and Beijing municipality, perform the work arrangements made by the CPC Tongzhou District Committee and district government, and work out auxiliary measures with clearly defined duties. A strong synergy force shall be formed across the district to promote technological innovation, to make sure the reform of technological system and construction of innovative system proceed smoothly.

(II) Improving assessment and evaluation

The evaluation, supervision and inspection system of how the policies, objectives and tasks of innovation-driven development strategy will be established and improved. Technological innovation will be given more weighting in the district government’s assessment of the performance of departments, towns and townships and sub-districts. The effects of policy measures will be regularly analyzed and evaluated to make sure the innovation work is done in a well-planned and well-paced manner. The assessment and evaluation mechanism of major technological projects will be improved to be more scientific and standard. A third party will be engaged in selecting the projects to be supported by special fund and also in the evaluation, execution, tracking and performance assessment of it, so as to make sure technological innovation can match market demands and the policies are efficient and realistic.

(III) Fostering an innovative atmosphere

An innovative culture with characteristics of the time and of Tongzhou will be further promoted to foster an atmosphere that respects creativity and talents and encourages innovation. The district will steer enterprises to foster corporate culture with innovation as the core value to stimulate their innovative vigor and passion for entrepreneurship and urge them to win the market, increase profits and pursue development through innovation. The action plan of “scientific quality for all” will be strongly advanced and events of sci-tech popularization and mass innovation will be carried out extensively to raise the scientific quality and innovative awareness of people living in the district. All kinds of media will be fully utilized to disseminate the innovation-driven development strategy, significant technological results, typical innovative figures and eminent technological enterprises, which will be commended and rewarded more strongly. All these will help foster a social environment favorable for innovation and entrepreneurship.