SCIO briefing on development of industry and information technology in H1 2025

Yicai:

The development of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has drawn widespread social attention. We have noticed that the MIIT has conducted National SMEs Service Month activities for five consecutive years. Could you introduce the latest developments? What measures will be taken next to promote the healthy development of SMEs? Thank you.

Xie Shaofeng:

Thank you for your questions. SMEs are an important force in promoting innovation, boosting employment and improving people's well-being. In the first half of this year, we, together with the Ministry of Finance, supported the high-quality development of 1,241 "little giant" enterprises focusing on specialized and sophisticated technologies. We conducted development evaluations for all specialized and sophisticated SMEs and provincial-level SME authorities to continuously improve the tiered cultivation system for high-quality enterprises. By far, we have fostered more than 140,000 specialized and sophisticated SMEs, with 14,600 classified as "little giant" enterprises. At the same time, we have worked together with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the National Intellectual Property Administration, and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce to carry out the "100 Events for 10,000 Enterprises" program for four consecutive years. This program facilitates business matchmaking and collaboration between large enterprises and SMEs, promoting the integration of more SMEs into the innovation, industrial and supply chains of large enterprises.

The high-quality development of our SMEs relies on the support of high-quality services. As you mentioned, we have organized National SMEs Service Month activities for five consecutive years. This year, we, together with 16 departments, carried out the "Benefiting Enterprises Together" service action for SMEs. To mark the United Nations' Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day which falls on June 27, we organized National SMEs Service Month activities in June, focusing on the pressing difficulties and problems that most concern SMEs, ensuring that more high-quality services reach enterprises directly. This year's National SMEs Service Month had four characteristics. First, there were many participants. Relevant departments, competent authorities for SMEs at all levels, and more than 1,800 public service institutions for SMEs participated in the event, forming a strong synergy. Second, we employed various service methods. We fully leveraged the role of the national SMEs service network (www.chinasme.cn), combining online and offline channels to expand both the depth and breadth of services. So far, the platform has aggregated 260 million pieces of tendering and bidding information, and the Market Opportunity section has been visited more than 23 million times. Third, the service contents were rich. A list of 42 service contents has been developed across eight key areas, including talent attraction and cultivation, as well as financing promotion, driving local authorities and service institutions to deliver extensive targeted public-benefit services. Fourth, there were excellent service outcomes. In the first half of the year, we served more than 3.6 million SMEs, trained nearly 400,000 professionals, facilitated financing intentions exceeding 51 billion yuan, generated transaction orders worth nearly 8.2 billion yuan, and secured technology transformation contracts valued at over 8.6 billion yuan.

Next, we will continue to strengthen public-benefit services in the areas that SMEs are most concerned about: policies, talent, funds, markets, innovation and compliance. We will continuously promote the high-quality development of SMEs. In terms of policy, we will study and revise the classification criteria for SMEs. We will work with the State Taxation Administration to launch a special campaign aimed at helping SMEs to access favorable tax and fee policies more conveniently. In terms of talent, we will organize training programs for leading talents in SME management and operation, and jointly with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, carry out the Model Workers and Master Craftsmen Assistance Campaign, organizing technical service teams of model workers and master craftspeople to help SMEs solve technical problems. In terms of funding, we will promote the establishment of the second phase of the China SME Development Fund to attract more private capital for early-stage investments, small-scale investments, long-term investments and hard technology investments. We will implement the regulations on the timely payment of debts to SMEs to protect their legitimate rights and interests. In terms of innovation, we will further carry out the "100 Events for 10,000 Enterprises" program, facilitating business matchmaking and collaboration between large enterprises and SMEs. We will also continue the work of releasing lists by large enterprises so that SMEs can select and undertake key projects, promoting the entry of innovative products from SMEs into the supply chains of large enterprises. Together with the National Intellectual Property Administration, we will implement an initiative to encourage the industrial application of patents for SME growth to strengthen guidance on technological innovation for SMEs. By pooling service resources and enhancing service capabilities, we will help SMEs overcome challenges and achieve high-quality development. Thank you.