Published by ChinaMNC · Nanzhang
Shandong Province Data Industry Plan: What Foreign Founders Need to Know
Shandong Province has issued implementation opinions to accelerate high-quality development of its data industry. For foreign founders, this signals opportunities in data enterprise cultivation, data labeling, data asset development, and cross-border data services. This article summarizes the key policies and practical implications for foreign-invested enterprises.
Shandong Province Data Industry Plan: What Foreign Founders Need to Know
The General Office of the Shandong Provincial People's Government has issued implementation opinions to accelerate high-quality development of the data industry. The policy aims to strengthen the role of data elements and AI technologies, cultivate data enterprises, and expand the data industry. For foreign founders considering company registration or operations in China, this provides a roadmap of supported sectors and incentives. Below is a summary of the key measures, based only on the published source.
1. Cultivating and Attracting Data Enterprises
Shandong will establish a provincial data enterprise cultivation pool, covering six categories: data resources, data technology, data services, data applications, data security, and data infrastructure. A gradient cultivation action will identify and support growth-stage data enterprises, with eligible firms able to access financial services and computing power support. By 2028, the province aims to have more than 25,000 data enterprises, including over 70 listed companies and over 500 unicorn and gazelle enterprises.
Traditional resource-intensive enterprises, industry leaders, and internet platforms are encouraged to set up independent data business entities through new establishment or restructuring. Traditional third-party institutions such as legal, accounting, auditing, and asset valuation firms are supported to expand into data compliance certification, security auditing, quality evaluation, asset valuation, and risk assessment.
Municipalities are encouraged to improve investment promotion policies for data enterprises, revitalize idle parks and buildings, and attract data business from leading internet companies through equity participation or cooperative construction.
2. Developing Data Labeling and Processing
Shandong will support basic, large-scale data labeling and processing industries in qualified cities and counties, serving AI development and boosting employment. The focus will be on high-quality, professional labeling, including intelligent labeling and 4D labeling, to enhance capabilities in complex areas such as fintech and biomedical data. The goal is to shift labeling toward technology-intensive, high-value-added fields.
3. Data Resource Development and Asset Value
Enterprises are encouraged to increase investment in data collection, aggregation, computing, storage, circulation, trading, development, utilization, and security governance. Support includes forming innovation consortia with upstream and downstream firms, universities, and research institutes, and utilizing provincial key laboratories and technology innovation centers.
Public data authorized operators will enrich data products and services, with vertical platforms in marine, healthcare, and transportation sectors. The policy promotes data brokerage, consulting, and trusteeship. It also encourages data asset confirmation, measurement, and disclosure, and prudently explores data asset operation models such as equity contribution and financing guarantees.
4. Industrial Clustering and Supply Chain Collaboration
High-standard pilot data industry clusters will be built in Jinan and Qingdao. Other cities can develop specialized, small-scale clusters based on local advantages. By 2028, the province aims to form more than 30 data industry clusters, with annual average growth of over 20% in the data industry scale. Digital empowerment platforms and public service platforms will be established to support cluster development.
Chain-leading enterprises are supported to integrate data resources across the entire chain, and leading firms are encouraged to provide data and computing resources to SMEs. The province will map the data industry chain and compile project and scenario lists to address weak links.
5. Synergy with AI and Traditional Industries
Shandong will deepen the integration of "Data Element ×" and "AI +", developing new business forms such as Data-as-a-Service, Knowledge-as-a-Service, and Model-as-a-Service. By 2027, more than 50 high-quality industry datasets will be built 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.
"Data Date" activities will match data products with application scenarios. Qualified counties are encouraged to explore integrated development of data and traditional industries in agriculture, transportation, healthcare, and urban governance. Traditional enterprises can recruit data enterprise "partners" and authorize their data resources to data enterprises for product development, sharing value-added benefits.
6. Data Supply, Talent, and Funding
Public data openness will be expanded with annual lists, and authorized operation mechanisms will supply high-value public data products to data enterprises. Enterprises are encouraged to open data under classification and grading protection.
A Chief Data Officer system will be implemented in qualified data enterprises. Universities, research institutes, and enterprises will jointly build data industry colleges and training bases. By 2028, about 10 data-related disciplines will be built in universities, with about 5 new doctoral and master's programs. Technical education will include AI and IoT courses.
Provincial fiscal funds will support data enterprises and pilot projects, and eligible projects can apply for central budget investment. Financing channels include 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.
7. Infrastructure and Cross-Border Services
An integrated provincial computing power service platform will be built to meet data enterprises' computing needs. Enterprises are supported to build secure and trustworthy data infrastructure and participate in trusted data spaces for enterprises, industries, and cities. The "Qi Computing Interconnection" action will promote computing-network integration, with millisecond-level computing resource network access in metropolitan areas, and pilot actions in Jinan and Qingdao.
Relying on the "Shanhai Jing Overseas 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 provide low-latency, high-bandwidth, and high-security international data transmission. New service models such as "data processing for export" and "token export" will be explored under legal compliance. Cities are encouraged to pursue national pilot projects for international data cooperation.
8. Security Bottom Line
The policy reiterates the implementation of national data classification and grading protection systems, with enhanced management of data involving national security. (The source text is truncated at this point.)
Practical Implications for Foreign Founders
Foreign founders registering a company in Shandong or considering data-related operations should note the following:
- Eligible sectors: Data labeling, data resource development, data asset services, and AI-related data services are explicitly supported. Foreign-invested enterprises may participate, subject to China's negative list for foreign investment.
- Incentives: Support includes financial services, computing power access, fiscal funds, and financing channels. However, specific eligibility and application procedures should be confirmed with local authorities.
- Compliance: Data classification and grading, security audits, and cross-border data transfer rules apply. The policy encourages compliance but does not waive legal requirements.
- Partnerships: Opportunities exist to partner with local data enterprises, traditional firms, and universities for innovation and market access.
- Going global: Cross-border data services and international cooperation pilots may benefit foreign founders with global operations.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.
For assistance with company registration and operations in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.