1. Overview
The E-Town Cluster in the High-end Industrial Area of the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone covers 27.83 square kilometers. It is dedicated to nurturing industries like international finance, culture and creativity, biotechnology, and big health. Its mission is to set up a platform for commercialization of scientific and technological achievements and a hub for strategic emerging industries and high-end international functional institutions.
2. Development Goals
The E-Town Cluster aims to further support the new round of reform and innovation practices in strengthening the development of the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector in Beijing. The cluster strives to leverage the functional positioning of high-end, sophisticated and cutting-edge industries in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, strengthen openness as well as trade and investment cooperation, and boost industrial development and market vitality. By taking on pilot projects that expand opening-up efforts as a driving force, the E-Town Cluster actively adopts high-standard national economic and trade rules to establish a high-standard opening-up system with industrial features of Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. The cluster fully leverages the foundational strengths of Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area in key areas like digital economy, financial services, and biomedicine. It aims to enhance reforms and opening up of the entire chain and all aspects, driving high-quality industrial development via the openness of the service industries. By the end of 2024, Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area is expected to make substantial progress on all eight municipal key tasks. Policies implemented will be utilized in innovative scenarios. A total of 90 percent of independent innovation tasks will be launched. Institutional innovation will empower industrial development and attract many high-quality projects.
3. Development Details
First, the E-Town Cluster aims to establish a "4+2+1" industrial system and build itself into an innovative industrial cluster with global influence. The "4" refers to focusing on the four leading industries in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area and making the most of their leading role to build a hub for high-end, precision, and sophisticated industries. The "2" means the efforts to improve the high-end service industries and integrated industries of science, technology, and culture. The "1" emphasizes the vigorous development of the digital economy industries and the establishment of a pilot area for building a digital benchmark city.
Second, the cluster aims to improve the international development environment and develop new advantages in opening up and cooperation. The cluster will enhance its international influence by actively establishing international cooperation platforms, increasing efforts to attract international investment, and optimizing international talent services.
Third, the cluster aims to create a special comprehensive bonded zone and build a new hub for opening up. The cluster is mainly characterized by services for the high-end manufacturing industries, supply chain management, and bonded services. By prioritizing the integration of advanced manufacturing and technology-based innovation, the cluster aims to accelerate the seamless connection of the innovation, industry, supply, and foreign trade chains by exploring a group management model and establishing a nationally recognized smart comprehensive bonded zone.
Fourth, the cluster aims to deepen reforms in key areas and facilitate the flow of vital resources. In terms of land management, a comprehensive life-cycle approach will be adopted for industrial land to ensure immediate construction upon land acquisition. To facilitate the free flow of capital, measures such as pilot cross-border cash pooling in both domestic and foreign currencies will be implemented to enhance the openness of the financial sector. Regarding administrative approvals, innovative measures like the digital timestamp-based notifications for approvals will be introduced.
Fifth, the cluster seeks to foster regional coordinated development and support open cooperation for mutually beneficial outcomes. Efforts will be made to establish multi-level collaborative advancements by deepening the coordinated development of industrial chains, fostering the creation of a unified open market, and encouraging regional collaborative innovation. This includes facilitating coordination with Tongzhou and Daxing districts, enhancing connections between upstream and downstream enterprises of the industry chain of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and fostering collaborative innovation among national economic and technological development zones.
