SHENZHEN has launched an online application for the fifth batch of key projects tackling technological problems in 2021, starting from Friday, according to the Shenzhen Municipal Science, Technology and Innovation Commission.

The key projects tackling technological problems cover 31 crucial issues in four major fields, including biological and population health technology, new energy and energy conservation, advanced manufacturing and automation, and electronic information. Among them, biological and population health technology has the most number of research projects with 15.

Eligible entities can log on to the Shenzhen Municipal Technology Businesses Management System (https://sticapply.sz.gov.cn/) to fill project application forms online. Subsidies for a single project are capped at 10 million yuan (US$1.56 million).

These measures are aimed at beefing up Shenzhen’s high and new technology industrial competitiveness, increasing industrial independent innovative capacity and making breakthroughs in core technologies, such as machine parts and components.

The applying entities must be legally registered in Shenzhen or in the Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone and possess legal person qualifications. National or Shenzhen high and new technology enterprises with certificates issued in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and technologically advanced service enterprises with certificates that are valid ahead of the application acceptance are eligible to apply if their annual operation revenue reached 20 million yuan and above in 2020.

(Xia Yuanjie)