China ramps up support for cutting-edge SMEs in tech advancement drive

China is set to intensify its efforts to nurture and support innovative small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in order to accelerate technological advancements and drive new product development.

SMEs play a crucial role in driving innovation in China. The latest efforts focus on a select group that uses specialized and sophisticated technologies to create novel and unique products.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), there will be an accelerated push for SMEs to migrate to cloud, adopt digital tools and leverage intelligent technologies. The aim is to foster distinctive industrial clusters of SMEs and build a high-quality, efficient service system to support them.

The MIIT previously announced that a special campaign will be launched to empower SMEs through digital transformation, with the goal of achieving full digitalization of "little giant" enterprises by 2027, the novel elites among China's SMEs that are engaged in manufacturing, specialize in a niche market and boast cutting-edge technologies.

The latest support for innovative SMEs aligns with a recently unveiled key policy document that underscores the importance of reinforcing the primary role of enterprises in innovation.

By the end of June this year, China had cultivated over 140,000 such SMEs, including 12,000 "little giant" enterprises.

To encourage scientific and technological SMEs to increase their research and development (R&D) spending, China will raise the rate of additional tax deductions for their R&D expenses, according to the policy document.

Furthermore, efforts will be made to encourage and guide higher education institutions and research institutes to authorize the use of their proprietary scientific and technological advances by micro, small and medium enterprises on a "use first, pay later" basis.

In terms of the service system, China has established more than 1,780 public service institutions for SMEs at the national, provincial, municipal and county levels, according to the latest MIIT data. The coverage rate of institutions at the municipal-level and above has hit 84 percent.

This figure marks new progress in the ministry's plan to bolster support capabilities across all levels by 2025 for SMEs. By 2035, the goal is to establish a sophisticated service system that aligns with the high-quality development of SMEs. This system will focus on creating a framework of top-tier institutions, strong platforms, rich resources, excellent services and high satisfaction rates.

China's SME promotion law stipulates that people's governments at or above the county level should establish and improve public service institutions based on actual needs. These institutions provide public welfare services to SMEs, including intellectual property protection, investment and financing, technical support and talent acquisition.