Chengdu Hi-tech Zone is showing unabated vigor and vitality in industrial development. On May 18, "Unicorn Gradient Breeding Program" was released. On June 6, Chengdu Hi-tech Zone issued the Several Policies of Chengdu Hi-tech Zone in Building Bioindustry Ecosphere (Industrial Functional Zones) to Promote the Development of Bioindustry ("The Policies"), seeking to shape an ecosphere for bioindustry and realize quality development of bioindustry.

Centering on the building of industrial ecosphere, the Policies offers support to enterprises and agencies in biomedicine, biomedical engineering, biological service, health new economy, and other fields in terms of growing industrial chain in both size and strength, invigorating innovation chain, strengthening supply chain, making innovation in financial chain, encouraging the development of distinctive industrial culture, and building all-round professional service system. "The release of The Policies will empower the quality development of bioindustry in Chengdu Hi-tech Zone, and enable the city to build a modern bioindustry system with global competitiveness and regional spillover effects." The remarks of the responsible person of the Bioindustry Development Administration in Chengdu Hi-tech Zone tell something about the industrial layout of Chengdu Hi-tech Zone in bioindustry, namely a shift from "chain" to "sphere".

The reporter learned that it is Chengdu's first policy on the building of ecosphere (functional zone).


Enhancing support to key varieties, with the maximum reward increasing from RMB 10 million to RMB 30 million


To grow both the size and strength of industrial chain, The Policies points out that greater efforts should be made to introduce more Fortune Global 500, top 100 domestic enterprises, and key, competitive varieties, and encourage them to establish headquarters, R&D center, and production base in Chengdu Hi-tech Zone. For the introduction of key, competitive varieties, high-end talent team, and major industrialization projects with total investment over RMB 500 million, The Policies points out that a case-by-case model can be followed to render support.

For the nurturing of local unicorn companies with huge growth potential, The Policies points out that for enterprises with annual output over RMB 100 million, growth rate of output exceeding 20%, and annual tax revenue surpassing RMB 5 million, a reward as high as RMB 5 million will be offered. The award method is also applied to backup enterprises deemed as gazelle and unicorn companies.

While growing the strength of industrial chain, efforts should also be made to substantiate what has been achieved, "The Policies will offer more support to nurture key, competitive varieties, encourage the development of new varieties, aiming to growing the strength of industrial chain with concrete efforts." According to the responsible person of the Bioindustry Development Administration in Chengdu Hi-tech Zone, according to The Policies, the maximum award to key varieties is enhanced from RMB 10 million to RMB 30 million; for domestic top 3 varieties that have passed consistency evaluation, a maximum award of RMB 5 million will be offered; for enterprises that have passed international drug regulatory certification, a one-off award of RMB 1 million will be offered; support will also be provided to enterprises that have newly built and upgraded production lines, and strengthened R&D and innovation efforts.


"Innovation ticket" invigorates innovation chain to build global biomedicine supply chain service center


How to balance the R&D appeal of innovation-oriented enterprises and the full utilization of public technology services? For that purpose, Chengdu Hi-tech Zone has rolled out "innovation ticket". According to The Policies, the "innovation ticket" will be provided to innovation-oriented enterprises under designated size with an annual R&D input ratio of 6% in the form of project application. When enterprises purchase services from bioindustry public technology platform, the "innovation ticket" can be used to deduct a certain percentage of service fee. The bioindustry public technology platform can receive a certain amount of service fee subsidy with the "innovation ticket" from Chengdu Hi-tech Zone. "The total amount of annual 'innovation ticket' caps at RMB 5 million. Such a 'two-way subsidy' model will help reduce burden for both the demanders and suppliers of service," said the responsible person of the Bioindustry Development Administration in Chengdu Hi-tech Zone.

In terms of supporting supply chain, the priority is to improve the building of medicine distribution system, and strengthen the service capacity of global supply chain. The Policies makes it clear that for enterprises that have newly acquired the general right of agency or first right of agency of imported medicine (instrument), a maximum award of RMB 10 million will be offered for a single variety. Enterprises identified as above designated size are encouraged to expand medicine import and export; according to trade volume, a single enterprise can receive as high as RMB 2 million award each year.

Besides, in shaping financial chain, The Policies encourages social capital to bring industrial resources to Chengdu Hi-tech Zone and strengthen financial chain. "Chengdu Hi-tech Zone will establish special fund for bioindustry with total scale no less than RMB 10 billion, including angel fund, venture capital, and industrial development fund, which will encourage investors to bring quality enterprises invested by them to Chengdu Hi-tech Zone." According to the responsible person of the Bioindustry Development Administration in Chengdu Hi-tech Zone, the industrial special fund will empower enterprises by offering multi-layered support and services through multi channels and forms.

Chengdu Daily Reporters: Miao Qin, Song Yanyan