Chongqing Unveils "20 Measures" to Spur Scenario Innovation, Mandating 5% of Government Project Funds for New Scenarios

Chongqing municipality recently rolled out the Policy Measures for Accelerating Scenario Cultivation and Opening Up (the "Policy Measures"), unveiling five key priorities and 20 supporting measures. The policy is expected to continuously enlarge effective scenario supply while advancing the open, fair and efficient allocation of scenario resources.

Specifically—

In a bid to support scenario project development, Chongqing will push government-invested projects to build new scenarios, mandating that at least 5% of the budget funds be set aside for new scenario development. The city will also explore creating a municipal key scenario project library, with included projects encouraged to apply, in line with laws and regulations, for central budgetary investment, ultra-long-term special government bonds, local government special bonds, and municipal special funds.

In a move to deepen the opening of scenario resources, Chongqing will encourage manufacturers to open up their scenarios and support relevant enterprises in seeking recognition as future factories, green factories and smart factories. The city will also encourage state-owned enterprises to expand scenario opening-up by including scenario development plans and budgets in their annual investment plans. Meanwhile, districts and counties will be encouraged to coordinate their scenario opening-up efforts, with cross-region jointly planned and opened scenarios to be admitted into the municipal key scenario project library under relevant procedures.

In an effort to optimize the ecosystem for scenario innovation, Chongqing will grant subsidies of up to RMB 2 million for the development of industrial AI agents, high-quality datasets, trusted data spaces, typical application scenarios, and for leading the development of sector-specific industrial brains. Innovative entities conducting technological research in response to scenario application needs will be eligible for financial support of up to RMB 30 million for a single major project. Meanwhile, Chongqing is exploring ways to incorporate the outcomes of scenario innovation into the comprehensive high-quality development assessment of all development zones citywide.

In a push to strengthen the provision of elements for scenario development, Chongqing will promote on-demand access to public data for scenario builders, improve the financial product system including "Scenario Loans," and incorporate the land required for scenario-related infrastructure into the territorial spatial planning in a coordinated manner. The city will support insurance institutions in exploring full-chain sci-tech innovation insurance products, such as proof-of-concept insurance and optimized pilot-scale testing comprehensive insurance. For enterprises insuring their first set of major technical equipment and first batch of new materials, the maximum annual subsidy for a single enterprise shall not exceed RMB 5 million.

In a step to promote the application of scenarios, Chongqing will offer up to RMB 5 million in subsidies to developers for the first set of major technical equipment created through transformation. The city will fully implement the "regulatory sandbox" system, explore a fault-tolerance mechanism, implement observation-period management, and conduct flexible regulatory enforcement. This will lower the institutional costs of scenario innovation and fully release its innovative vitality.

Source: Chongqing Daily