China’s eastern tech powerhouse Hangzhou – home to Alibaba and emerging AI leader DeepSeek – has unveiled an ambitious package of policies to supercharge its innovation ecosystem. The move signals China’s continued momentum in next-gen tech development while creating potential opportunities for global investors and startups.
Powering the Digital Engine
At a Wednesday press briefing, city technology chief Lou Xiuhuan revealed initiatives targeting three key areas: enhancing R&D infrastructure, accelerating commercial tech applications, and fostering public-private collaboration. A highlight includes expanded computing power vouchers for SMEs – government subsidies helping smaller players access advanced AI infrastructure.
Startup-Friendly Reforms
New 'use first, pay later' licensing rules allow universities and research institutes to share patented technologies with businesses through deferred payment models. This addresses a critical bottleneck in commercializing academic breakthroughs.
AI for All Industries
An 'AI+' initiative aims to embed artificial intelligence across manufacturing, healthcare and logistics sectors. The program coincides with accelerated development of large-scale AI models and specialized computing centers.
As Zhejiang Province's economic crown jewel, Hangzhou has already birthed 67 provincial-level technology incubators and hosts major facilities like the West Lake Intelligent Science and Technology Innovation Center. These reforms could cement its role as China’s answer to Silicon Valley in the age of generative AI.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
