Recently, the "Suggestions on Promoting Scientific and Technological Innovation and Accelerating Construction of National Innovation Pilot City (hereinafter referred to as the “Suggestion”) " was issued by the municipal party committee and government of Yichang City. The “Suggestion” defines a series of policies on supporting and encouraging scientific and technological innovation, for example, a one-time grant of 100,000 RMB shall be awarded to a newly determined high-tech enterprise, and 200,000 RMB to a newly determined national level innovation enterprise. The incentives range from 100,000 RMB to several million.

　　To accelerate the nurturing of technological innovation enterprises, the government will allocate a special fund of 3 million RMB each year to implement the Innovation and Growth Project of Technology Based SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). 200 technology based SMEs will be selected and nurtured. Special funds for major projects on scientific and technological innovation will be set up in six big billion industries to support the transformation and industrialization of important research results, research and development of key technologies. 1,000,000 RMB, 200,000 RMB, and 100,000 RMB rewards will be respectively granted to research and development platforms including newly approved or determined national level, provincial level, and city level engineering and technology (research) centers (industrial technology research institute), key (engineering) labs, technical centers.

　　In support of the construction of feature industry bases, 500,000 to 1,000,000 RMB, 300,000 to 500,000 RMB rewards will be respectively awarded to the newly determined national level and provincial level high-tech feature industry bases from this year on to vigorously promote the construction of scientific and technological enterprise incubators, accelerators and public service platforms. In 2013, A 500,000 RMB award will be granted to newly determined state-level technology enterprise incubators and accelerators; a 200,000 RMB award to the newly determined provincial level technology enterprise incubators or accelerators. In 2014, a one-time subsidy of 10 RMB per square meter will be granted to scientific and technological enterprise incubators or accelerators that is completed and put into operation in the year.

　　In addition, the “Suggestion” also puts forward suggestions on several other areas including supporting the construction of Yichang high-tech zones and Yichang New zone, encouraging counties to create innovative parks, promoting research cooperation, strengthening intellectual property development strategy, training and introducing top talent, improving policies and measures to support entrepreneurial talent and innovation, deepening reform of technology assessment and reward system, promoting technology and financial integration, and pushing forward urban construction and social management innovation.(correspondent: Xie Chao, Journalist: Chen Xi, intern: Yu Ying )