The Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality released the application guidelines for the "Biomedical Innovation Development" projects under the 2026 Science and Technology Industry High-Quality Development Plan, effective April 30.

Covering eight major categories and more than 20 specialized research directions, the initiative aims to support the development of globally influential science and technology innovations.

Online applications are accepted from 9 am on May 12 to 4:30 pm on May 29, 2026.

Application scope

1. Target discovery

Key directions:

Combination target discovery and confirmation

Novel target discovery based on subcellular spatiotemporal localization maps

Novel target discovery based on chemical perturbation mechanisms

Funding:

Up to 2 projects per direction, with up to 2 million yuan (about $294,700) per project.

2. Drug design

Key directions:

Development and application of antibody drug design models

AI models for RNA-targeted small-molecule drug design

Virtual screening and rapid synthesis platform for cyclic peptides

Intelligent agent systems for drug-design applications

Funding:

Each direction is limited to one project, with funding capped at 2.5 million yuan per project. Companies must maintain a self-raised-to-requested funding ratio of at least 2:1.

3. Drug evaluation

Key directions:

AI-based ADMET property prediction models

Digestive system tumor organoid models

Brain organoid model development

Organ-on-a-chip intelligent analysis platforms

Funding:

ADMET and organ-on-a-chip platforms: one project per direction, up to 2.5 million yuan

Digestive system and brain organoid models: up to two projects per direction, up to 2 million yuan each, under a “horse-race” mechanism

Funding ratios: ADMET prediction model requires 1:1 self-raised funds, the other three directions 2:1

4. Innovative drug clinical R&D

Research objective and key directions:

Conduct Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for innovative drugs targeting cancer, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurological diseases, as well as early-stage clinical trials for Class 1 innovative cell and gene therapy drugs.

Funding:

Phase I trials: Up to 1 million yuan per project

Phase II or early-stage cell/gene therapy trials: Up to 1.5 million yuan per project

Up to 12 projects will be supported

Companies must maintain a self-raised-to-requested funding ratio of at least 2:1.

5. Modern traditional Chinese medicine innovation and inheritance

Key directions:

Clinical trials for innovative TCM drugs

Research on traditional Chinese medicine compound preparations based on classical formulas

Translational research on hospital TCM preparations or TCM empirical prescriptions

Funding:

Direction 1 supports up to two projects: Phase I clinical trials may receive no more than 1 million yuan each, and Phase II clinical trials may receive no more than 1.5 million yuan each.

Direction 2 is limited to one project, with no more than 1.5 million yuan per project. Direction 3 supports up to two projects, with no more than 1.5 million yuan per project.

Companies must maintain a self-raised-to-requested funding ratio of at least 2:1.

6. High-end innovative medical devices

Key directions:

Engineering prototype development for high-end medical devices

Clinical evaluation for registration of high-end medical devices

Funding:

Direction 1 supports up to 12 projects, with no more than 2 million yuan per project. Direction 2 supports up to 12 projects, with no more than 1 million yuan per project. Companies must maintain a self-raised-to-requested funding ratio of at least 2:1.

7. Pharmaceutical new technologies

Key directions:

Platform technologies for emerging pharmaceutical fields, including targeted protein degradation drugs, peptide and protein therapeutics, conjugated drugs, nucleic acid drugs, and cell and gene therapy drugs

Novel drug formulations and delivery technologies

Funding:

Direction 1 supports up to five projects, with no more than 3 million yuan per project. Direction 2 supports up to three projects, with no more than 1.5 million yuan per project. Companies must maintain a self-raised-to-requested funding ratio of at least 2:1.

8. Laboratory animal research

Key directions:

Development, application, and preservation of laboratory animal resources

Quality control for laboratory animals

Animal model research and development for clinical applications

Funding:

Directions 1 and 2: Limited to one project for each direction, with no more than 2 million yuan per project.

Direction 3: Up to six projects, with no more than 1 million yuan per project.

Companies must maintain a self-raised-to-requested funding ratio of at least 2:1.

Application requirements

Key application requirements include the following:

Applicants must be legal entities or unincorporated organizations registered in Shanghai and capable of implementing the program. They must also meet the applicant-type, qualification, license, and documentation requirements for the relevant project category.

Applicants and project participants must comply with research integrity requirements and scientific ethics standards.

Applicants and project participants must comply with regulations on human genetic resources management and biosafety management for pathogenic microorganism laboratories.

Each project leader may apply for no more than one project; individuals already leading two or more ongoing projects under the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology's science and technology plans are ineligible to apply as a project leader.

Project budgets must be realistic and compliant with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology's rules on science and technology plan project fund management.

Foreign-invested enterprises registered in Shanghai are eligible to apply if they meet the requirements for the relevant project category.

Application timeline

Start: 9 am, May 12, 2026

Deadline: 4:30 pm, May 29, 2026

Applications must be submitted online via the Shanghai Science and Technology Management Information System (https://svc.stcsm.sh.gov.cn); no paper submissions are required. The applicant's organization must review and submit the application online.

Projects will undergo one round of correspondence review, with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology publicly announcing the approved projects and accepting public feedback and objections.

For inquiries, please contact:

Hotline for landline users: 800-820-5114

Hotline for mobile phone users: 400-820-5114

Source: Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality