- New rules aim to make research practical and market-driven
- Enterprise input now dominates project selection and evaluation
Zhejiang is shifting its approach to provincial-level science and technology projects, handing companies the reins on major initiatives aimed at boosting innovation and tackling critical bottlenecks.
Under recently issued measures from the provincial science and technology department, enterprises must lead or participate in at least 80% of projects designated as “jian bing” (vanguard) or “ling yan” (leading goose) initiatives, with the most strategically important vanguard projects requiring 70% enterprise leadership.
These programs target core technology breakthroughs and foundational research that underpins industrial growth.
The new framework prioritizes real-world enterprise needs over purely academic proposals: 60% to 80% of project ideas must now originate from companies, while enterprise representatives must comprise at least half of the review panels.
Funding and evaluation are tied to practical outcomes, with user assessments supplementing traditional expert reviews to ensure projects translate into tangible industrial benefits.
The regulations also lift restrictions on applications from upstream and downstream partners recommended by leading tech companies, as well as promising “tech dragon” startups, aiming to accelerate high-impact innovation across Zhejiang’s industrial ecosystem.
