The following measures are formulated to thoroughly implement the Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Forwarding the Measures of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Commerce on Further Encouraging Foreign Investors to Establish R&D Centers (G. B. H. [2023] No.7), support the clustering and development of foreign-funded R&D centers in the city, enable them to make big leaps in their quantity and scale of influence, unblock the channels linking global innovation resources, promote the cross-border flow of innovation factors, move faster to build an open innovation ecosystem with global competitiveness, and support and serve Beijing’s drive to grow into an international center for science & technology innovation.

1. Support the upgrading and expansion of foreign-funded R&D centers

(1) Attract more foreign-funded R&D centers to land in the city. We will leverage Beijing’s educational, technological, and human resources advantages to support well-known multinational corporations and top international scientific research institutions to establish their first physical R&D innovation centers or open innovation platforms in Beijing. We will guide the newly established foreign-funded R&D centers to focus on regional leading industries and cluster in key areas with foundation and conditions for international cooperation, facilitate the formation of international R&D facility clusters, and give financial support of up to RMB 50 million based on the comprehensive assessment results of their performance in introducing international innovation resources and expanding open cooperation.

(2) Encourage foreign-funded R&D centers to upgrade their innovation capabilities. We will support foreign-funded R&D centers in Beijing to upgrade from regional R&D centers to greater-regional or global ones, and provide financial support of up to RMB 20 million based on the comprehensive evaluation results of their performance in improving the overall effectiveness of local innovation system. We will support eligible major high-quality projects in high-tech industries, such as new-generation information technology and intelligent equipment, implemented by foreign-funded R&D centers in Beijing, and include them into the special municipal-level mechanism for the implementation of key projects and investment promotion for the convenience of coordination.

2. Support high-level technological innovation

(3) Support foreign-funded R&D centers to increase investment in R&D. We will implement the tax policy in favor of technological innovation, and support foreign-funded R&D centers to apply for the pre-tax deduction of their eligible R&D expenditures. We will move faster to implement the incentive plan for foreign-funded R&D programs, and explore the application-exempt method to incentivize foreign-funded R&D centers for their R&D expenses of the previous year. We will strengthen policy communication and counseling for foreign-funded R&D centers to help them apply for the status of national high-tech enterprises.

(4) Support foreign-funded R&D centers to deeply integrate into the local innovation system. We will support foreign-funded R&D centers to independently or take the lead in undertaking government S&T projects for such purposes as R&D, international cooperation, and application scenario demonstration. We will support foreign-funded R&D centers to focus on the high-tech industries, build innovation service platforms such as proof-of-concept centers and generic technology platforms, and carry out collaborative innovation in the R&D of cutting-edge technologies. A foreign-funded R&D center with legal personality can serve as the implementing unit for the Municipal Natural Science Foundation of Beijing, and organize its technological personnel to apply for projects sponsored by the Foundation. We will actively attract scientists and technological experts from foreign-funded R&D centers to join the municipal base of scientists and technology experts.

(5) Support foreign-funded R&D centers to strengthen the creation and use of intellectual property rights. Foreign-funded R&D centers are encouraged to apply for high-value patents, and take the lead or participate in the formulation of industry standards, national standards, and international standards. They are also encouraged to apply for inclusion in the list of entities eligible for fast pre-examination service for patents. Their eligible invention patent applications can be recommended to the State Intellectual Property Office for priority examination.

(6) Support foreign-funded R&D centers to jointly build an open innovation ecosystem. We will support foreign-funded R&D centers, new-type R&D institutions, leading technology companies and other local innovation entities to build close innovation partnerships in various forms and jointly integrate into the global innovation network. Foreign-funded R&D centers are encouraged to initiate or participate in the establishment of innovation funds and achievement commercialization funds. They are also encouraged to deeply participate in national platforms such as the China International Fair for Trade in Services, Zhongguancun Forum, and Financial Street Forum, and debut their cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements on these platforms, to promote international exchanges and cooperation in the S&T field.

3. Enhance the level of R&D facilitation

(7) Promote the opening of scientific research infrastructure to foreign-funded R&D centers. We will support major scientific research infrastructure, large-scale scientific research instruments, basic platforms of generic technology, and public S&T information services to open to foreign-funded R&D centers. We will improve cybersecurity services for foreign-funded R&D centers to access international frontier academic websites in specific areas of the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone.

(8) Optimize the customs clearance and regulatory mechanism for scientific research materials of foreign-funded R&D centers. We will do a good job in ensuring the customs clearance of important scientific research materials of foreign-funded R&D centers. For eligible imported R&D supplies, appointments can be made for priority inspection. We will support eligible foreign-funded R&D centers to be included in the white list of entities for imported biomedical R&D items in Beijing. For animal and plant genetically modified organisms and biological materials imported by foreign-funded R&D centers for national and municipal scientific research projects, we will actively assess the biosecurity risk, and facilitate the quarantine approval process for eligible ones. For the entry and quarantine inspection of human cells such as stem cells for clinical trials, we will adopt the new regulatory model of centralized approval and multi-center clinical trials. We will support foreign-funded R&D centers to extend the period of temporary entry for special key equipment and test vehicles for R&D purposes in accordance with regulations.

(9) Support the orderly cross-border flow of R&D data of foreign-funded R&D centers in accordance with law. We will urge foreign-funded R&D centers to strengthen their own data management in accordance with relevant requirements for national cross-border data flow security, and promote the safe, orderly and free flow of R&D data. In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, institutions that meet the qualification requirements are encouraged to provide technical support and compliance services for cross-border data flow to foreign-funded R&D centers with such needs.

4. Strengthen support in all respects

(10) Support foreign-funded R&D centers to attract and retain talents. We will support foreign-funded R&D centers to recruit and cultivate basic scientific research personnel, and those that have passed the comprehensive evaluation can be entitled to key support. The eligible fresh graduates they have recruited will be entitled to the specially designated qualifications for acquiring the Beijing hukou. We will support foreign-funded R&D centers to hire high-level research personnel in key links. Foreign-funded R&D centers are allowed to apply for the work permits with a term that does not exceed the term of the labor contract signed and work-type residence permits with a term of no more than five years for the foreign members of their team. In accordance with the requirements of relevant national pilot projects, personnel holding senior management or technological positions in foreign-funded R&D centers are eligible to be certified as foreign high-end talent (Category A), and their application for work permits can be accepted and processed based on informed commitment and provisional acceptance with omissions. 

(11) Support R&D personnel of foreign-funded R&D centers to apply for the city’s professional titles and S&T awards. Overseas high-end personnel and personnel in short supply hired by foreign-funded R&D centers are encouraged to apply for the city’s professional titles. Their overseas working experience, academic or professional and technological contributions can be used in their application materials, and they are not subject to the limitation of domestic working years. The eligible can apply for the express review of their application for the senior professional title in the engineering and technology series or the express review of their application for the professional title of the research fellow in the scientific research series. Foreigners with outstanding contributions to foreign-funded R&D centers are encouraged to apply for the Zhongguancun Award for International Cooperation.

(12) Improve the talent service for foreign-funded R&D centers. Within the scope of statutory authority, policy support will be given to eligible overseas high-end personnel and personnel in short supply hired by foreign-funded R&D centers in terms of housing, education of their children, employment of their spouse, medical services, and others. High-level overseas returnees employed by foreign-funded R&D centers are entitled to fast customs clearance of imported goods, and duty-free release of imported goods that are on the list of tax-free articles for scientific research and teaching purposes and duty-free articles for personal use. Foreign-funded R&D centers will be included in the white list of units inviting foreigners to come to China, and when they apply for such invitations, the provisional acceptance with omissions policy will apply.

(13) Ensure spatial support for projects implemented by foreign-funded R&D centers. For incremental expansion projects and technological achievements commercialization projects of foreign-funded R&D centers, we will tailor spatial support solutions to each of them by employing differentiated land supply methods such as long-term leasing, leasing-before-transfer, part-for-leasing and part-for-transfer, flexible-tenure transfer, and by subsidizing their rents.

(14) Increase financial support for foreign-funded R&D centers to carry out technological innovation. Foreign-funded R&D centers will be connected to platforms such as the Beijing Changrong Project and the Beijing Bank-Enterprise Docking System. Financial institutions will be encouraged to provide financial support for their technological innovation and basic and cutting-edge research, on the premise of controllable risks.

5. Improve the service system

(15) Strengthen coordination. A municipal-level special taskforce for affairs related to foreign-funded R&D centers will be set up. The foreign-funded R&D centers with strong innovation ability and remarkable results will be covered the “service package” working mechanism, with “one-to-one” service personnel and a regular communication and contact mechanism in place. We will strengthen policy effect evaluation, follow-up visits, etc., and provide a whole range of services to facilitate the development of foreign-funded R&D centers in Beijing.

(16) Urge the delivery of policies on the ground. We will step up in policy communication and promote direct and fast access to various support policies, ensuring that eligible foreign-funded R&D centers are well-informed of and fully enjoy the benefits they are entitled to. We will support all districts (including the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area) to introduce corresponding supporting policies in terms of funds, talent, and space, and strive to bridge the “last mile” of policy implementation.

6. Supplementary provisions

This Measures shall take effect 30 days after the date of issuance. In case of any discrepancy with the expressions in the Notice of the General Office of Beijing Municipal People’s Government on Issuing Regulations of Beijing Municipality for Supporting the Establishment and Development of Foreign-funded R&D Centers (J. Zh. B. [2022] No.11), this Measures shall prevail.