Shanghai Global Science and Technology Partnership Program
This Program is formulated to accelerate the development of an open science and technology innovation environment with global competitiveness, to strengthen Shanghai's role as a source of scientific and technological innovation and a leader in high-end industrial development, and to enhance its global influence and leadership in scientific and technological innovation. It also aims to support overseas research institutions, enterprises, organizations, and scientific and technological innovators and entrepreneurs in becoming Shanghai's science and technology partners, thereby jointly advancing global scientific and technological progress and industrial innovation, integrating into global innovation networks, and contributing to the development of a global science and technology community.
I. International Joint Research Initiative
Support shall be provided to universities, research institutes, and enterprises in Shanghai to conduct high-level joint research with global partners on global challenges, major scientific issues, national strategic priorities, and Shanghai's key development needs.
1. Supporting Joint Scientific and Technological R&D
Cooperation models with global science and technology authorities, research institutions, and scientific organizations shall be deepened and expanded. Funding mechanisms shall be improved to support bilateral joint research projects through co-funding, joint agenda-setting, and joint project selection. Support shall be provided for Shanghai research teams and their global partners to focus on shared development needs, leverage their respective technological strengths, and carry out "small but high-impact" joint research projects. With respect to major scientific issues and innovation needs, the establishment of strategic "flagship projects" shall be explored. Through mechanisms such as international challenge competitions and "Shanghai Needs, Global Solutions," global innovators shall be encouraged to participate in Shanghai's science and technology innovation initiatives.
2. Establishing Joint Research Platforms
Support shall be provided for Shanghai innovators to collaborate with global partners in jointly establishing high-level international joint research platforms, including international joint laboratories. Both parties shall be encouraged to jointly invest in research infrastructure and resources and to carry out collaborative research, academic and personnel exchanges, and the commercialization and application of technological results. A performance-based support mechanism for international joint laboratories shall be established. Joint laboratories meeting the evaluation criteria shall receive project-based funding to support reciprocal personnel exchanges and collaborative research.
3. Fostering Major Scientific Programs and Projects
Support shall be provided for Shanghai innovators to collaborate with global research institutions in fields such as particle physics, life sciences, climate change, and the marine environment, to conduct joint research, build multilateral cooperation networks, and initiate or participate in major international scientific programs and large-scale scientific projects. Cooperation within the framework of international scientific and technological organizations shall be strengthened to jointly initiate international joint research programs.
II. Talent Exchange and Visiting Initiative
Global high-level scientific and technological talent and outstanding young scientists are encouraged to work in Shanghai and engage in academic visits and exchanges, while young global technology entrepreneurs are encouraged to start and grow businesses in Shanghai.
4. Attracting Global High-level Scientific and Technological Talent
The Magnolia Talent Program shall be implemented to support Shanghai research institutions and technology enterprises in recruiting leading global talent, including chief scientists, academic or technical leaders, and their research teams. Procedures for visas and work permits for foreign talent shall be further streamlined, and green-channel mechanisms shall be established to facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship by high-level foreign talent in Shanghai. A system for the recognition of international professional qualifications shall be established and improved, pilot immigration policies for highly skilled talent shall be advanced, and the convenience of global talent working and living in Shanghai shall be continuously enhanced, together with strengthened support services.
5. Supporting Overseas Young Scientific and Technological Talent in Visiting Research and Exchange
The Shanghai Partnership Research Program shall be launched, focusing on key areas such as basic research, frontier technologies, and future industries. Funding shall be provided for outstanding young overseas scientists to undertake visiting research at Shanghai universities, research institutes, and technology enterprises, engage in collaborative research and academic exchange, and jointly cultivate high-level talent with global vision and development potential. The Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship for International Students shall be utilized to support outstanding students from various countries in pursuing study and scientific research in Shanghai.
6. Encouraging Global Young Technology Entrepreneurs to Start Businesses in Shanghai
The Shanghai Acceleration Program for Global Science and Technology Innovation Projects shall be implemented to enhance the international profile of initiatives such as the "Startup in Shanghai" International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and the "Shanghai Talents" Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition. Relevant policies, including work permits for foreign entrepreneurial talent, together with service platforms such as the "First Stop for Entrepreneurship," shall be effectively utilized to attract global young talent to establish businesses in Shanghai. Shanghai shall further leverage high-quality incubators, advanced proof-of-concept platforms, and entrepreneurship parks for persons who have studied abroad, with a view to making Shanghai the preferred destination in China for overseas entrepreneurial teams.
III. Initiative for the Attraction and Development of International Scientific and Technological Organizations
Support shall be provided for the development of international scientific and technological organizations in Shanghai. Shanghai innovators shall be encouraged to collaborate with global partners to establish such organizations in areas of comparative advantage and emerging fields. Such organizations shall be supported in promoting Shanghai's openness and international cooperation in science and technology.
7. Proactively Attracting International Scientific and Technological Organizations
Support shall be provided for internationally influential scientific and technological organizations to establish headquarters, secretariats, and other offices in Shanghai. Efforts shall be made to attract overseas non-governmental organizations in the science and technology sector to establish representative offices in Shanghai, and to strengthen service support for the development of international scientific and technological organizations. Such organizations shall be encouraged to host high-level international academic and industry exchange activities in Shanghai and to participate in international cooperation, including the formulation of international standards and industry rules.
8. Fostering and Initiating the Establishment of International Scientific and Technological Organizations
Shanghai innovators and global partners shall be encouraged to jointly initiate and establish international scientific and technological organizations in areas of Shanghai's comparative strengths, including life sciences, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, green and low-carbon development, public health, and entrepreneurship and incubation, as well as in emerging fields such as frontier technologies and future industries. Such organizations shall be encouraged to take the lead in establishing international cooperation alliances and expanding global cooperation networks.
IV. Open Science Initiative
In implementing the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative and the Open Science International Cooperation Initiative, Shanghai shall promote the sharing of scientific and technological resources and results with global partners.
9. Promoting the Openness and Sharing of Scientific and Technological Innovation Resources
Eligible scientific and technological infrastructure shall be opened for global access and sharing. International cooperation and exchange shall be strengthened in the design, construction, operation, and management of major scientific facilities, and global partners shall be supported in conducting collaborative research with Shanghai innovators by utilizing such facilities. The international service capacity of platforms such as the Shanghai R&D public service platforms and the InnoMatch global technology supply-and-demand matching platform shall be enhanced, so as to further promote the international openness and sharing of Shanghai's scientific and technological innovation resources.
10. Promoting Scientific and Technological People-to-People Exchange
Support shall be provided for Shanghai innovators and global partners to conduct cooperation in fields including artificial intelligence, healthcare, green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and entrepreneurship and incubation.
International training programs, seminars, summer schools, and similar activities shall be organized to jointly carry out technical training, talent development, and other capacity-building activities.
Scientific and technological people-to-people exchange between China and other countries shall be enhanced, and the exchange, dissemination, and application of scientific and technological achievements shall be promoted.
11. Establishing International Platforms for Scientific and Technological Exchange
The internationalization of flagship events such as the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the Pujiang Innovation Forum shall be further enhanced, and high-level international platforms for scientific and technological exchange shall be developed.
Mechanisms for in-depth engagement and two-way interaction with internationally renowned science and technology exhibitions and innovation events shall be established.
Exchanges with relevant governmental authorities and scientific and technological organizations of other countries shall be strengthened. Dialogue mechanisms shall be established in areas including frontier technological development, science and technology management and governance, and technology ethics. Institutionalized exchange mechanisms and program brands shall be developed.
V. Internationalization of Industrial Innovation Initiative
Support shall be provided for the international development of various innovators in Shanghai, with enterprises as principal actors, to expand international markets and global networks.
Foreign-invested enterprises shall be supported in conducting collaborative innovation and in integrating into and contributing to Shanghai's science and technology innovation ecosystem.
The development of world-class science and technology parks shall be advanced to promote industrial innovation.
12. Providing High-quality Support for Enterprises "Going Global"
Support shall be provided for Shanghai technology enterprises to expand and strengthen their global innovation networks and market linkages.
Enterprises shall be encouraged to establish overseas R&D centers, innovation centers, incubation bases, and similar facilities to conduct diversified international innovation cooperation.
Enterprises shall be supported in participating in major international professional exhibitions and trade fairs to accelerate the expansion of innovative products into international markets.
The development of the Shanghai Belt and Road Comprehensive Service Center and the Shanghai Comprehensive Service Platform for Enterprises "Going Global" shall be strengthened. Professional service institutions in fields including legal services, arbitration, finance, taxation, inspection, testing, and certification shall be supported in enhancing cross-border service capabilities.
International development alliances for enterprises in sectors such as biomedicine shall be established, and the roles of overseas chambers of commerce and associations, multinational corporations, and professional service institutions shall be leveraged to provide consulting, training, and related services.
13. Supporting the Innovative Development of Foreign-invested Enterprises in Shanghai
Foreign-invested enterprises shall enjoy equal access to apply for and receive funding under Shanghai's publicly funded science and technology programs.
Scientific research infrastructure, common technology R&D platforms, and public scientific and technological information resources shall be made available to foreign-invested enterprises in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Foreign-funded R&D centers shall be encouraged to establish public-interest basic research funds. A certain proportion of fiscal support shall be provided for basic research projects undertaken by universities and research institutes supported by such funds.
Collaborative innovation programs for foreign-funded R&D institutions supported by fiscal funding shall be established. Cooperation between foreign-invested enterprises and Shanghai research institutions and science and technology enterprises shall be supported, including through the establishment of joint laboratories and collaboration in basic research and frontier technological innovation, to generate high-quality R&D outcomes.
Foreign-invested enterprises shall be supported in establishing open innovation platforms, proof-of-concept platforms, common technology service platforms, and cross-border incubation services, and shall enjoy equal access to relevant policies on financial incentives, land use, and taxation for the cultivation of science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship incubation carriers.
14. Building World-class Science and Technology Parks
Efforts shall be intensified to advance the development of Zhangjiang Science City and the "Greater neoBay" Science and Technology Innovation Source Functional Zone.
Support shall be provided for sub-parks of Zhangjiang High-Tech Park to increase investment and enhance their level of international development.
Global industrial and science parks, multinational corporations, and professional service institutions shall be encouraged to deepen institutionalized cooperation with Zhangjiang High-Tech Park and other innovation parks in Shanghai.
The development of international cooperation parks shall be accelerated to attract high-quality industrial innovation projects to Shanghai and to cultivate distinctive industrial innovation clusters.
VI. Innovation Ecosystem Optimization Initiative
Shanghai shall improve its open innovation system to foster an enabling environment for scientific and technological innovation and to further develop an internationalized research and academic environment and innovation ecosystem.
15. Optimizing the Environment for Open Academic Exchange
Shanghai innovators shall be encouraged to strengthen cooperation with their global partners on the development of high-level international scientific and technological journals, to jointly host international conferences in Shanghai, and to facilitate international academic exchange.
Universities, research institutes, and new-type R&D institutions in Shanghai shall be supported in establishing research management systems, funding management mechanisms, and talent development environments aligned with international standards, and in developing key platforms conducive to international academic and talent exchange.
Greater support shall be provided for international scientific and technological cooperation through awards such as the Shanghai Science and Technology Awards and the Magnolia Friendship Award.
16. Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection
Shanghai shall improve rapid and coordinated protection mechanisms for key industries, refine public service systems, and continue to develop a world-class business environment for intellectual property protection.
Global intellectual property service institutions, arbitration institutions, and related organizations shall be supported in establishing branches and conducting business operations in Shanghai in accordance with law.
The service capabilities of platforms such as the National Intellectual Property Operations (Shanghai) International Service Platform shall be enhanced.
Eligible scientific research data shall be encouraged to undergo intellectual property registration for data products in accordance with relevant provisions.
17. Facilitating Customs Clearance for Scientific Research Materials and Cross-border Data Flows
Policies on the temporary import and export of scientific research materials shall be implemented, and facilitation measures for customs clearance for such materials shall be improved.
Pilot policies for the importation of materials used in biomedical research and testing shall be optimized, and the joint regulatory mechanism for special items entering and leaving the Chinese mainland shall be improved, including support for the cross-border movement of cell therapy products and related materials.
The establishment and improvement of systems and standards governing the trading and circulation of data resources, cross-border data transmission, and data security protection shall be accelerated.
Subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations and on the premise of ensuring security, the facilitation of cross-border data flows shall be enhanced, and a data classification and grading protection system shall be implemented.
18. Leveraging the Opening-up Advantages of Key Areas
Relying on the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, including the Lin-gang Special Area, Shanghai shall expand open innovation functions such as bonded R&D, offshore incubation, and cross-border technology transactions, and support the Lin-gang Special Area in developing into a global offshore innovation hub.
The functions of the Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone shall be leveraged by supporting Shanghai innovators in hosting professional academic conferences and other scientific and technological exchange activities within the Zone, and by supporting the establishment of proof-of-concept platforms and open innovation platforms therein.
Shanghai shall leverage the Hongqiao International Central Business District as an open hub; support the InnoMatch global technology supply-and-demand matching platform, as well as other innovation resources and service providers, in establishing a presence in the District; and build an innovation network covering the Yangtze River Delta and linking to global innovation systems.
