Апублікавана · Belarus

Shandong’s 2026 Policy Package: Key Incentives for Foreign Founders Operating in China

A practical guide for foreign founders on Shandong Province’s second batch of 2026 economic policies, covering funding for consumption, AI, marine industries, and more.

Foreign founders registering or operating a company in China should pay close attention to provincial policy lists, which often signal where government funding and regulatory flexibility are headed. Shandong Province’s second batch of 2026 policies—approved by the provincial Party Committee and Government—aims to expand domestic demand, improve supply, and remove bottlenecks. While the measures are primarily domestic, they create opportunities for foreign-invested enterprises in targeted sectors.

Consumer and Service Sector Support

Shandong is allocating funds to stimulate consumption and modernize services. Foreign founders in retail, food, or entertainment may find partnership or supply opportunities.

• New consumption scenarios: The province is raising 40 million yuan to support diversified, themed, and nighttime consumption areas. An additional 60 million yuan will help cities issue retail and catering vouchers.
• Performance economy: Cities are encouraged to develop distinctive, long-term performing arts projects. Eligible organizers of approved premium performances and concerts/music festivals can receive financial rewards.
• Creative cultural products: A one-time reward is available for market entities that develop hit cultural products, evaluated on originality, artistry, cultural value, social impact, and reach.
• Consumer credit subsidies: The provincial finance department, using central funds, will provide a 1-percentage-point interest subsidy on eligible personal consumer loans and credit card installments to lower borrowing costs.

Employment and Talent

• State-owned enterprise hiring: Provincial SOEs are instructed to set campus recruitment plans with at least 65% of annual hires being university graduates, and to launch autumn 2026 recruitment for 2027 graduates by the end of November.

Investment and Innovation

Foreign founders in deep tech and advanced manufacturing should note new support for proof-of-concept and pilot testing.

• Policy fund management rewards: A 50 million yuan fund will reward the top five cities based on their management of central budget investments, ultra-long special treasury bonds, and new policy financial tools. Rewards range from 5 to 15 million yuan for social welfare and urban renewal projects.
• Intellectual property investment: The province will build provincial-level concept validation centers and pilot-testing bases in fields such as embodied intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, commercial aerospace, industrial mother machines, and high-end software. Eligible projects receive policy support.
• Horizontal research projects: Universities and research institutes may treat horizontal research projects with at least 500,000 yuan in received funding as equivalent to provincial science and technology projects for staff assessments and promotions.

Marine Economy and Infrastructure

• Marine development zones: 80 million yuan in local government special bonds will support national marine economy demonstration zones and provincial modern marine industry clusters, focusing on infrastructure.
• Blue talent teams: Ten new Taishan industry leading talent teams in high-end shipbuilding, marine engineering, marine biopharmaceuticals, and marine new energy/materials will each receive 3–3.4 million yuan annually for three years.
• Land use flexibility: For approved temporary land, forest, and grassland use for key transportation, energy, and water projects, different construction sections may use the same land sequentially before reclamation deadlines, with total use not exceeding the approved construction period.

Environmental Permitting Streamlining

Cities may expand pilot programs linking planning and project environmental impact assessments to all national parks with completed planning EIAs and qualified provincial parks. For strategic emerging and future industries—next-generation information technology, new energy vehicles, AI, quantum tech, deep sea/deep earth/deep space, low-altitude economy—and certain manufacturing sectors, cities may trial a notification-and-commitment system for projects requiring EIA report forms.

Financial Support for Construction and Green Building

Construction companies may pledge or transfer receivables from confirmed projects (including PPPs) as assets, with financing ratios set by financial institutions. Banks are encouraged to explore loans secured by receivables, building materials, equipment, and trademarks. Bond financing support is increased for green building materials, green buildings, and prefabricated construction.

Pumped Storage Pricing

For projects starting in 2025–2027, a benchmark capacity price applies: 487.53 yuan/kW·year for 6-hour projects and 459.16 yuan/kW·year for 5-hour projects (tax included). Revenue sharing from energy and ancillary service markets is tiered: up to 100 yuan/kW·year is fully retained by the station; 100–300 yuan/kW·year is 55% retained; above 300 yuan/kW·year is 10% retained, with the rest covering system operation costs. Parameters will be reviewed after operation based on actual investment and market prices.

Service Industry and Platform Economy

• Service sector incentives: 100 million yuan will reward cities with outstanding service sector performance in the first three quarters, up to 20 million yuan each.
• Platform economy: About 90 million yuan will subsidize eligible service platform enterprises based on brand building and improvement plans.
• “Shandong Service” brand: 150 million yuan supports brand creation for micro and startup enterprises; 50 million yuan supports brand upgrading in business services (accounting), trade circulation, and testing/inspection.
• New service growth: Funding supports quality projects in AI services, R&D, testing and certification, agricultural social services, internet wholesale, professional markets, multimodal transport, warehousing, cultural tourism, health care, broadcasting, online audiovisual, and digital performances.

Financial-Industrial Integration and Recycling

• Financial services: 100 million yuan via re-lending interest subsidies and insurance subsidies to support financial service growth.
• Recycling: 100 million yuan supports recycling of scrap steel, copper, and aluminum, guiding compliant operations.

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

• “AI + Manufacturing” pilots: Cities selected for pioneering applications in chemicals, steel, and equipment receive 10 million yuan annually.
• AI capability centers: One-time subsidies for centers built across 31 manufacturing categories, aiming for full coverage of key categories.
• Smart factories and scenarios: About 40 smart factory projects per year receive one-time subsidies; about 30 projects per year in 19 flagship and 67 key industrial chains receive “scenario vouchers.”
• AI terminals: About 30 AI terminal products per year receive one-time subsidies.
• Robotics: About 20 innovative products per year—humanoid robots, industrial robots, and key components—receive one-time subsidies to boost manufacturing applications.

Modern Agriculture

From 2026 to 2028, 300 million yuan will be raised annually to support new or upgraded protected agriculture projects in eligible villages.

Takeaway for Foreign Founders

These policies indicate that Shandong is channeling funds toward advanced manufacturing, AI, marine industries, green building, and modern services. Foreign founders with operations or partners in these areas should monitor local implementation rules and consider engaging with city-level authorities to access incentives. For assistance with company registration and ongoing compliance in China, ChinaMNC can help.

Call to action: Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.