China Releases First List of Sci-Tech Enterprise Incubators, Boosting Innovation Ecosystem

On the 16th, it was learned from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that the first list of sci-tech enterprise incubators was officially released, including 402 standard-level incubators and 14 excellence-level incubators. This move marks a solid step in optimizing China’s sci-tech innovation service system, laying a solid foundation for promoting the integration of technological and industrial innovation, according to People’s Daily Online.

A relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology introduced that the identification of incubators is carried out in accordance with the idea of "optimizing stock, strengthening increment, classified cultivation and upgrading energy level". Specifically, it is divided into two categories: standard-level and excellence-level. The standard-level adopts qualification-based identification to consolidate the energy level of innovation and entrepreneurship services, while the excellence-level is selected by benchmarking against world-class standards, focusing on empowering the transformation of technological achievements in depth.

The 402 standard-level incubators focus on laying a solid foundation and serving innovation. Including Beijing Entrepreneurship Center, China Electronic Science and Technology Puketiansheng Incubator, Huairou Instrument and Sensor Hard Technology Incubator, they cover emerging industrial directions such as biomedicine, artificial intelligence, integrated circuits and new materials, and meet multiple requirements including subject qualification, incubation space, operation team and incubated enterprises. Their goal is to provide full-cycle and professional incubation services for start-ups, promoting the transformation and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements.

The 14 excellence-level incubators, including Beihang Tianhui, Zhongke Chuangxing Hard Technology Incubator and Zhiyou Artificial Intelligence and Robot Incubator, highlight the characteristics of "strong industrial attributes, strong service functions, strong talent traction, strong investment empowerment and strong acceleration effect", according to China News Service. Wang Tianmiao, leader of Zhiyou Artificial Intelligence and Robot Incubator, said: "We rely on the innovative model of ‘scientist fund’ to realize the in-depth participation of scientists in investment decisions, strengthening the guidance of technology and industry."

The person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology further stated that China has built an incubation service network covering the whole country and linking the world. Incubators have been built in 95% of counties and above across the country, and branch institutions have been laid out in more than 50 countries and regions around the world. The innovation and source capacity of incubators has been continuously enhanced, with the R&D intensity of incubated enterprises reaching as high as 7.8%, owning 1.12 million intellectual property rights and undertaking more than 900 national science and technology plans.

The achievements in incubator cultivation are fruitful. A total of 810 listed enterprises have been incubated, and more than 1/3 of the listed enterprises on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board have been cultivated by incubators, reported Economic Daily. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will further increase support in policy support, gradient cultivation, standard guidance and financial coordination, to build more high-level and professional incubators and promote more advanced achievements to be transformed within the incubators.