Shanghai announces new steps to help local tech firms

Shanghai has launched remote services of video verification and opened green channels for local technological firms to manage work permits for international talents, as offline services have been temporarily suspended due to the current COVID-19 outbreak.

The move is part of the measures issued by local authorities to help technology firms overcome the current challenges, according to the city's vice-mayor Liu Duo.

Other preferential policies include increasing the amount of each innovation voucher, or small lines of credit provided by local government to purchase scientific research services, for science and technology small-to-medium enterprises from 300,000 yuan ($45,293) to 500,000 yuan ($75,489).

Since April 2 when the preferential policies became effective, local technological firms granted with innovation vouchers have applied for 43.5 million yuan in total. The first batch of innovation vouchers worth over 10 million yuan has been provided for nearly 200 enterprises and service institutions.

"Priority support will be given to technology companies contributing to epidemic prevention and control for their declaration of projects as well," Liu said.

In addition, the city has offered a green channel to enterprises applying for non-renewable loans and extensions to relieve their temporary financial pressure. So far, 75 related loan cases have been completed, totaling 360 million yuan, Liu added.

"Banks, insurance companies and guarantee institutions have also reduced interest rates and fees to ensure the financing cost for science and technology SMEs in 2022 is not higher than the level of the same period in 2021," Liu said.

Furthermore, the filing times of some science and technology programs, such as the 2022 annual city technology SMEs innovation funds, have been extended to the end of May. Innovation and entrepreneurship competitions have relaxed entry requirements on the participating companies, including the registration time and total assets.

According to Liu, official hotlines have been set up for companies to respond to their inquiries.