Innovation and entrepreneurship ecology is "flourishing"

Photo Credit: bjnews.com.cn 

According to the ZGC Forum press conference held on May 15, 2023, 293 science and technology enterprises were established in Beijing every day in 2022, which means that a new one emerged in less than 5 minutes on average, 3.8 times the number in 2012. 

In recent years, as one of the most vigorous innovation hubs in China, Zhongguancun has played the role of a "test field" for reforms to the fullest, and carried out an array of pioneering reforms such as the "use now, pay later" model in the application of scientific and technological achievements, greatly stimulating the vitality of innovation. In 2022, the number of invention patents per 10,000 people in Beijing reached 218, 6.5 times the figure in 2012. The turnover of technology trading contracts reached 794.75 billion yuan, 3.2 times the figure in 2012. 

The past decade has seen an annual increase of 12 percent in the number of overseas returnees and foreign national employees in Beijing. In 2022, Beijing had 339 highly cited researchers, accounting for 4.7 percent of the world's total; and 102 unicorn companies, ranking at the forefront among cities worldwide. The value added of high-tech industries in 2022 accounted for 28.4 percent of its GDP, while the share of the digital economy increased to 41.6 percent. 

Driving the growth in Beijing, exerting a radiating impact throughout the country, and connecting the globe, an open Zhongguancun is enjoying an increasingly important position as a hub for the global network for innovation. Currently, Zhongguancun-based companies have established over 90,000 branches in other provinces and municipalities. They set up 842 overseas branches in 2021, 1.8 times the number in 2012. 

With the sustained vigor and boldness of having Zhongguancun be the first to break new grounds and pursue ventures, and by fully leveraging the compound advantages of the "Two Zones" and Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, Haidian District is accelerating the opening-up and development of the region with a focus on promoting innovation-driven development of trade in services to better serve the overall situation of national opening-up and development, said an official from Haidian District at the promotional event called "The Night of Haidian" held during the 2022 CIFTIS. 

Photo Credit: Official website of International Center for Science & Technology Innovation 

According to the report, Haidian has prominent advantages in innovation resources and great innovative and entrepreneurial vitality. As a district for implementing Zhongguancun's new pilot reform policies, Haidian will deliver these policies in projects, industrial parks and enterprises, establish an open competition mechanism to select the best firms for the development of key technologies, and support the "use now, pay later" model in the application of scientific and technological achievements. The district will also accelerate the review of the building of the Zhongguancun Comprehensive Bonded Zone to create a new opening-up platform at a higher level. 

As a digital economy hub in the city, Haidian strives to play a leading role in building the capital into a benchmark city for global digital economy, speed up its construction of a digital trade port, actively participate in the formulation of international rules in the digital field, and explore the building of a safe and orderly environment for data exchange step by step. It was the first district in Beijing to implement the reform of standard registration of enterprise domiciles, and successfully put 609 application scenarios for blockchain government services into practice.

In addition, Haidian is keeping a close eye on the talent factor of startups and building a team of scientific and technological service professionals to form the talent chain serving the innovation chain and the industry chain. All these means are accelerating the gathering of strategic scientists, trailblazing experts and creative teams to form a high-level talent highland. 

● China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) is co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality. 

● CIFTIS is the first state-level global comprehensive fair for trade in services, serving as an exhibition window, communication platform and cooperation bridge for the service industry and trade in services.