Technology research and development represents a critical link in
revitalizing the innovation chain. Recently, Songshan Lake has been
further upgrading technology policy by launching “Dongguan
Songshan Lake’s Implementation Measures on Supporting
Technology Research and Development” (hereinafter referred to
as the “Measures”) to support technology innovation.
Compared to the past, the newly launched policy is richer in content, broader in coverage, and greater in support benefiting many subjects such as higher institutions, research institutes and enterprises. The most impressive part of the policy lies in granting subsidies to general-benefit enterprises in their R&D. enterprises meeting the requirements are all entitled to enjoy the policy support.
What are the important significance for enterprises to conduct technology research and development? What is the thinking behind the launch of the policy? In what aspects can efforts be made? Let’s heed voices from different sides.
01
Momentum: Investment in technology R&D accelerates innovation of enterprises
Guangdong Shengyi Sci. Tech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Shengyi Technology”) is the largest manufacturer of copper clad laminate in the Chinese mainland with its production and sale ranking second in the world. The company currently mainly deals with copper clad laminate and bonding sheet with its product performance reaching internationally advanced level. Among which, its independently manufactured high-performance copper clad laminate for high-speed memory chip substrate is the first of its kind in China.
Behind the simultaneous enhancement of both production and value lies the unceasing momentum brought by technology research and development, allowing enterprises to move faster on the path to innovative development.
As early as in 1994, Shengyi Technology had started laying out enterprise technology center and was approved of establishing “National Electronic Circuit Engineering Research Center”, becoming the only enterprise in Dongguan with national engineering research center and the only copper clad laminate enterprise in the Chinese mainland with national research institution.
“The establishment of the Engineering Research Center can provide researchers with a better innovation platform and converge strengths of talents.” According to Luo Li, Director of the Department of Intellectual Property Rights, Shengyi Technology so far owns more than 1,700 patents and over 60% of inventions.
Shengyi Technology is not the only enterprise in Songshan Lake to enhance innovation through technology research and development. Since founding in 2005, HEC Pharm Research Institute, had been approved of establishing two national key laboratories, undertaking 29 national major projects with over 3,500 patents being applied home and abroad; Guangdong Sinopatt Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd. had realized development and industrialization of new type of patterned sapphire substrate. The product can effectively improve the extension quality of GaN and relevant technology projects had won the second prize of the State Technological Innovation Award.
At present, the R&D investment of the industrial zone accounts for 10.98% of its GDP, 5 times of the national average. The achievement is closely attributed to the solid foundation laid by Songshan Lake over the years. Now 58% of the enterprises above designated size in Songshan Lake are equipped with research institutes with 202 key laboratories and engineering technology centers above city level. Songshan Lake leads the city in both the quantity and quality of research institution.
02
Policy interpretation: Upgrading technology policies to make efforts in six major aspects
“Technology research and development is an act of high risk and high investment.” Just as Xing Shaolong, Office Director of HEC Pharm Research Institute put it, the launch of the policy is like a strong shot in the arm.
Since 2018, Songshan Lake has successively launched the “Interim Measures of Dongguan Songshan Lake Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone on Rewarding National, Provincial and Municipal Technology Projects” and the “Interim Measures of Dongguan Songshan Lake Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone on Subsidizing Enterprises for Construction of R&D Institutes”. Various parties are encouraged to actively carry out research projects to support enterprises in construction of high-level R&D institutions. By contrast, the newly launched “Measures” has incorporated many “upgraded” terms.
“In Dongguan’s new round of industrial deployment, Songshan Lake inherits the important mission of leading innovative development. Songshan Lake has to instruct various innovation subjects in increasing investment in research and development, actively establish research platforms for technology breakthrough in critical areas and improve technology research and development.” According to people in charge of Songshan Lake Technology and Education Bureau, through in-depth investigation and scientific evaluation, the “Measures” mainly center around six aspects of subsidy for enterprises’ investment in R&D, reward for technology projects, subsidy for construction of technology innovation center, reward for enterprises for construction of R&D institute, reward for recognition of R&D institutes and subsidy for Hong Kong-Macao joint R&D institute, providing subsidies and rewards for enterprises, research institutes and higher institutions.
Among which, national high-tech enterprises, enterprises above designated size and the accepted small- and medium-sized technology enterprises are entitled to a maximum subsidy of one million yuan for investment in R&D every year; national or provincial technology projects after being accepted are entitled to a maximum reward of 3 million yuan; national or provincial technology innovation centers registered and established in Songshan Lake are entitled to a subsidy of 50 million yuan and 10 million yuan, respectively.
Moreover, in terms of strengthening connection and interaction of innovation resources from Hong Kong and Macao, the policy supports subjects in Songshan Lake in establishing joint laboratory with higher institutions and research institutes of Hong Kong and Macao. Higher institutions and research institutes of Hong Kong and Macao are encouraged to establish R&D institutes as independent legal entities. National laboratories, national key laboratories and national engineering research centers in Hong Kong and Macao are supported in setting up branches in Songshan Lake with a maximum subsidy of 10 million yuan.
03
Trending discussion: Resource advantages should be fully utilized to make addition and deduction for the innovation chain
“We often say that research and development requires four conditions: space, equipment, expenditure and personnel. Exclusive talent project has already been included in Songshan Lake’s technology planning system. The other three factors are also involved in the policy.” Liu Yang, Director of Industrial Research Department of Guangdong Productivity Promotion Center spoke highly of all the items and conditions in the “Measures”.
According to Liu Yang, over the past two decades after its founding, Songshan Lake has formed a sound foundation for technology research and development and industrial ecological environment. Against the backdrop of building the pilot zone (Songshan Lake Science City) of comprehensive national science center in the Greater Bay Area, we should make addition and multiplication on a continuous basis. Efforts should be made to ensure technology research and development on the whole chain of innovation with results of source innovation being explored on one spectrum and industrialization of technology results being obtained on the other spectrum. In order to seize advantages in future technology and industry development, priority should be given to key industries, critical generic technologies and stranglehold technologies and greater efforts should be made to develop and reserve disruptive technologies.
“The launch of the policy will further attract talents from Hong Kong and Macao to work in Songshan Lake.” According to Liang Tianjiao, Deputy Director of Dongguan Research Branch (Spallation Source Science Center) of the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Executive Director of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Neutron Scattering Science and Technology, scientific apparatus and high-tech enterprises constitute advantageous foundation of Songshan Lake. Currently, the Spallation Source Science Center has jointly built Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Neutron Scattering Science and Technology with the City University of Hong Kong, Dongguan University of Technology and the University of Macao. Aside from carrying out basic and applied basic research, efforts will also be made to achieve breakthrough in economy and major demands of the country with advanced technology means being provided for enterprises to help them resolve difficulties in R&D. The terms regarding subsidies for relevant R&D institutes in Hong Kong and Macao in the policy can also help attract talents and accelerate construction of laboratory and drive innovative development of enterprises.