Minhang district released an implementation plan on Nov 4 to bolster the development of its innovation zone that is linked with the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The Shanghai FTZ, the first of its kind in China, is making moves to deepen reform and opening-up. Shanghai has expanded the FTZ through the establishment of comprehensive bonded zones as well as "linked innovation zones" in multiple districts to further drive economic growth and innovation.

Brief introduction

The linked innovation zone in Minhang district covers an area of about 46 square kilometers. It comprises the Minhang part of the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District and the Grand neoBay Sci-tech Innovation Park.

The zone will focus on new-type international trade and high-end intelligent manufacturing. It aims to create a new international trade platform that promotes the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, and develop a new driving force for high-end intelligent manufacturing integrating sci-tech innovations and industries. It will work to cultivate a group of high-level trading operators, attract a number of high-tech, high-efficiency and high-quality future industry projects, and build a batch of national-level sci-tech and industrial innovation platforms.

Key tasks

1. Upgrade the Hongqiao CBD Bonded Logistics Center (Type B)

The district will promote innovative business practices such as classified supervision of goods for bonded display and trading, as well as bonded display and trading across different customs supervision areas. It will also support the coordinated development of the bonded logistics center and comprehensive bonded zones. The task shall be accomplished by the end of 2024.

2. Expand the functions of bonded warehouses for public use

The district will support leveraging the customs special supervision area or the bonded logistics center (Type B) to realize the circulation of bonded imported goods purchased online among enterprises within the same area (center), and the interconversion of bonded imported goods purchased online and inbound bonded cargo under certain regulatory conditions. It will also support the extension of the storage period of specific products in bonded warehouses. The task shall be completed by the end of 2025.

3. Assist enterprises in applying for Authorized Economic Operator certification

The district will leverage its AEO certification guidance center to help more eligible enterprises in the innovation zone to be recognized as AEOs. The task shall be fulfilled by the end of 2024.

4. Conduct offshore economic and trade activities

The district will assist more enterprises in the innovation zone to be included in the "list of enterprises engaging in offshore economic and trade business" and conduct business through cross-border and offshore service platforms. The task shall be accomplished by the end of 2024.

5. Boost innovation in medical service trade

The district will enhance cooperation between privately-run medical institutions in the New Hongqiao International Medical Center and municipal-level public hospitals, and optimize the use of resources involving facilities, equipment, and medical service networks. The task shall be completed by the end of 2025.

6. Support sharing of scientific research instruments and equipment

The district will formulate a list of shared scientific research instruments and equipment for the Grand neoBay Sci-tech Innovation Park and the Zhangjiang Science City. The task shall be fulfilled by the end of 2024.

7. Promote cross-regional industrial cooperation in high-end equipment

For high-end equipment in the fields of aerospace and marine propulsion, the district will pilot the cross-regional cooperation between research and development headquarters in Minhang and industrialization testing and verification in the Lin-gang Special Area. The task shall be accomplished by the end of 2025.

8. Promote the coordinated development of low-altitude economy and industry

The district will cooperate with the Lin-gang Special Area to carry out electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) airworthiness certification, aircraft delivery, export of complete aircraft and components, pilot training, and other related work. The task shall be finished by the end of 2025.

9. Promote expedited patent examination in key areas

In collaboration with the China (Pudong) Intellectual Property Protection Center, the district will boost expedited examination of patents in key areas such as high-end equipment, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence. The task shall be completed by the end of 2024.

10. Pilot the shortening of the approval period for drug clinical trials

The district will support the construction of a drug evaluation and verification service center in the innovation zone. It will strive to implement national innovation pilot work, such as "reducing the time limit for review of drug supplementary applications from 200 days to 60 days", and "reducing the time limit for approval of drug clinical trials from 60 days to 30 days". The task shall be fulfilled by the end of 2025.

11. Improve comprehensive services for overseas investment projects

The district will assist establishing a reserve pool for overseas investment projects and strengthening policy guidance for overseas investment for enterprises based in the innovation zone. The task shall be completed by the end of 2024.

12. Deepen the reform of the commercial registration system

The district will pilot and expand the reform of the centralized registration system for enterprise premises in the innovation zone. The task shall be fulfilled by the end of 2024.

13. Expand pilot work on high-level opening-up of cross-border trade and investment

For a foreign exchange expenditure on trade in services and other projects with a single equivalent value of over $50,000 by a high-quality enterprise in the innovation zone, the district will allow post-verification of the Tax Filing Form for External Payments for Trade in Services and Other Projects. The task shall be completed by the end of 2024.

14. Deepen pilot work on cross-border capital pools

The district will provide support for enterprises in the innovation zone to establish cross-border capital pools that align with their development needs, enabling centralized operation and management of domestic and foreign currency funds. The task shall be fulfilled by the end of 2024.

15. Broaden financing channels for sci-tech innovation enterprises

The district will promote new models of bill financing for sci-tech innovation enterprises in the innovation zone, and encourage innovation in intellectual property pledge financing. The task shall be accomplished by the end of 2024.

16. Deepen the exploration of mixed land use

The district will pilot the implementation of policies on mixed land use, comprehensive land use, and innovative industrial land use in the innovation zone, and develop representative projects for mixed land utilization for scientific research, office work, and achievement application display. The task shall be completed by the end of 2024.

17. Optimize the household registration policy for recommended fresh college graduates

The district will allow key enterprises engaging in new-type international trade and high-end intelligent manufacturing in the innovation zone to recommend fresh college graduates from outside Shanghai, and help these graduates have their household registration settled in Shanghai. The task shall be accomplished by the end of 2025.

18. Improve the convenience of exit-entry services for foreign talents to work in China

The district will provide more convenient visa services for foreign talents to partake in exchanges, visits, business and other activities in the innovation zone. Support will also be provided for foreign sci-tech talents introduced by key enterprises in the innovation zone to apply for a work-based residence permit of up to five years. The task will be completed by the end of 2025.

19. Pilot cross-border data flow

The district will formulate guidance featuring scenarios of cross-border data flow in the field of human resources services. The task shall be fulfilled by the end of 2025.

 

Source: Minhang District People's Government

Note: The English version of the implementation plan is for reference only; the official Chinese document shall prevail.