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Shandong Province Data Industry Development Measures: A Practical Guide for Foreign Founders

Shandong Province has issued new implementation measures to accelerate data industry development. For foreign founders registering or operating a company in China, these policies signal expanded opportunities in data-related sectors, including enterprise cultivation, data annotation, resource development, and cross-border data services. This article distills the key points from the official document for practical guidance.

Shandong Province Data Industry Development Measures: A Practical Guide for Foreign Founders

Shandong Province has released implementation measures to accelerate the high-quality development of its data industry. The policy aims to strengthen data elements and AI technology, cultivate data enterprises, and expand the data industry. For foreign founders considering company registration or operations in China, these measures offer a roadmap of opportunities and support mechanisms in Shandong.

Enterprise Cultivation and Support

The province plans to establish a provincial data enterprise cultivation database, covering six categories: data resources, data technology, data services, data applications, data security, and data infrastructure. A gradient cultivation action will identify and support growing data enterprises, with eligible firms receiving financial services and computing power support. By 2028, Shandong aims to have over 25,000 data enterprises, including more than 70 listed companies and over 500 unicorn and gazelle enterprises.

Traditional resource-intensive enterprises, industry leaders, and internet platform companies are encouraged to establish independent data business entities through new setups or restructuring. Traditional third-party institutions such as legal, accounting, and auditing firms can expand into data compliance certification, security audits, quality evaluation, asset valuation, and risk assessment.

Local governments are encouraged to improve investment promotion policies for data enterprises, revitalize idle parks and buildings, and attract leading internet companies' data operations through equity participation or cooperative development.

Key Industry Directions

Data Annotation and Processing

The province will develop data annotation industries serving AI in qualified cities and counties, focusing on basic and large-scale annotation. It will also promote intelligent annotation and 4D annotation technologies, enhance capabilities in complex data annotation for fintech and biomedicine, and shift toward technology-intensive, high-value-added areas.

Data Resource Development

Enterprises are supported to increase innovation investment across data collection, storage, trading, development, and security governance. Data enterprises can form innovation consortia with upstream and downstream firms, universities, and research institutes for joint technical breakthroughs. Provincial key laboratories and technology innovation centers will be utilized for research and commercialization.

Data Asset Value-Added

Public data authorized operators are encouraged to enrich data products and services, especially in verticals like marine, healthcare, and transportation. The province will improve the data trading market system, cultivate data brokerage, consulting, and custody services, and orderly promote data asset confirmation, measurement, and disclosure. Prudent exploration of data asset operation models such as capital contribution and financing guarantees is encouraged.

Cluster Development and Synergy

High-standard construction of data industry clusters in Jinan and Qingdao will be piloted, with other cities developing specialized small clusters. By 2028, Shandong aims to form over 30 data industry clusters, with an average annual growth rate of over 20% in data industry scale. Digital empowerment and public service platforms will support cluster development.

Chain-leading enterprises are supported to integrate data resources across the chain, facilitate cross-enterprise and cross-industry data applications, and provide SMEs with data and computing resources. The province will map the data industry chain and list projects and scenarios to address weak links.

Dual Empowerment with AI and Traditional Industries

Shandong will deepen the integration of "Data Elements ×" and "AI+", developing new business forms like Data-as-a-Service, Knowledge-as-a-Service, and Model-as-a-Service. By 2027, it aims to build over 50 high-quality industry datasets in 16 key fields, including scientific research and healthcare, to support AI model training. A "Model-Data Resonance" action will encourage data enterprises to develop and apply industry large models.

For traditional industries, "Data Date" activities will match data products with application scenarios. Qualified counties may explore integrated development paths in agriculture, transportation, healthcare, and urban governance. Traditional enterprises are encouraged to recruit data enterprise "partners" and authorize their data resources to data enterprises for product development and revenue sharing.

Data Supply, Talent, and Infrastructure

Public data openness will be expanded with annual lists, and authorized operation mechanisms will supply high-value public data products to enterprises. Enterprises are encouraged to open data while ensuring classification and protection.

A Chief Data Officer system will be promoted in qualified data enterprises. Universities, research institutes, and enterprises are encouraged to build data industry colleges and training bases, focusing on data collection, annotation, analysis, and security. By 2028, about 10 data-related disciplines and 5 new doctoral/master's programs will be supported. Technical education digital literacy programs and AI courses will be advanced.

Funding and Infrastructure

Provincial fiscal funds will support data enterprises and pilot projects, with recommendations for central budget investments. Eligible data enterprises can broaden financing through IPOs, science and technology innovation bonds, and data asset securitization (ABS). Government investment funds will increase support, and financial institutions are guided to innovate financial products for data enterprises.

The province will accelerate the integrated computing power service platform, support secure and trustworthy data infrastructure, and encourage participation in enterprise, industry, and city trusted data spaces. The "Qi Computing Interconnection" action will promote computing-network integration, providing millisecond-level network access in metropolitan areas, with Jinan and Qingdao piloting "Millisecond Computing" initiatives.

Cross-Border Services and Security

Relying on the "Shan Hai Jing Cross-Border Comprehensive Service Port", the province will provide full-chain public services for data enterprises going global. A cross-border data circulation service system will be built, leveraging the Qingdao International Communication Business Gateway to offer low-latency, high-bandwidth, and secure international data transmission. New service models like "Data Processing for Export" and "Token Export" will be explored under legal compliance. Cities are encouraged to pursue national pilot programs for international data cooperation.

The province will implement national data classification and protection systems, strengthen security protection for data involving national security, and ensure compliance in data activities.

Practical Implications for Foreign Founders

Foreign founders looking to register a company in Shandong's data sector should note the focus on enterprise cultivation, cluster development, and AI integration. The measures emphasize support for data enterprises through financial services, computing power, and talent development. Opportunities exist in data annotation, data resource development, data asset operations, and cross-border data services. However, compliance with data security and classification regulations is essential. Foreign investors should consider partnering with local entities or utilizing government-backed platforms for market entry.

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

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.