Baoshan district in Shanghai has strengthened its legal safeguards for the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements over the past three years.

​In 2021, Baoshan introduced a model under which fiscal funds are invested initially and converted into equity once the supported enterprise reaches a certain stage of development.

In 2024, Baoshan further relaxed restrictions related to enterprises' previous financing records, providing targeted follow-up support for promising "mature seed" enterprises — early-stage companies that have reached a certain level of development, making the policy applicable to a broader range of enterprises and projects.

The initiative has drawn over 440 applications with 34 projects approved for support, and three of the projects have completed equity conversions.

Unsuccessful applications enter a reserve pool for classified management and ongoing cultivation. The approach ensures continuous support and lays a solid foundation for future commercialization.

The district has also strengthened protection of intellectual property rights. The district's procuratorial, public security, and market supervision authorities have coordinated their efforts to combat IP violations and related crimes, strengthening legal protection for innovation and technological achievements.

An intellectual property dispute mediation center has been established to mediate various disputes. In 2025, it handled 670 cases and successfully mediated 595 of them, with an average processing time of 20 days. Through efficient, low-cost dispute resolution, it saves enterprises time and legal costs when resolving disputes.

As a result of the district's efforts to provide a solid legal safeguard for sci-tech innovation and commercialization, nearly 37,000 new sci-tech enterprises have registered over the past three years, including a batch of industry leaders.

Source: Shanghai Baoshan district media center