Guangzhou issued “20 Rules for High-Quality Development of the Low-altitude Economy”

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on July 5, the General Office of the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government issued a notice on certain measures to promote the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy in Guangzhou. It states that supporting projects for key industries are encouraged. Vigorously cultivate low-altitude key equipment, core components, and material development enterprises, and support the construction of manufacturing projects such as main control chips, power systems, flight control systems, communication and navigation monitoring systems, airframes, avionics systems, key materials, and drone countermeasures in Guangzhou.

Encourage capacity building projects for R&D, manufacturing, operation, inspection and testing of low-altitude complete machines. The municipal finance supports 2% of the fixed asset investment amount; for major projects with fixed asset investment of 10 billion yuan or more, the municipal finance supports 5% of the fixed asset investment amount (excluding provincial and district support funds) for complete aircraft such as manned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), flying vehicles, and unmanned drones, etc., and projects with a fixed asset investment of 500 million to 10 billion yuan (not including provincial and district support funds).

The original text is as follows:

Notice of the General Office of the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government on Issuing Certain Measures to Promote High-Quality Development of the Low-Altitude Economy in Guangzhou

Each district people's government, municipal government departments, and agencies directly under the municipal government:

“Certain Measures to Promote High-Quality Development of the Low-Altitude Economy in Guangzhou” has been approved by the Municipal People's Government and is now being issued to you. Please implement them carefully. If any problems are encountered during the implementation process, please report them to the Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

General Office of Guangzhou Municipal People's Government

July 3, 2024

Guangzhou's measures to promote the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy

In order to implement the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference and the “Outline of the National Comprehensive Three-dimensional Transportation Network Plan” and “Guangdong Province's Action Plan to Promote High-Quality Development of the Low-Altitude Economy (2024-2026)”, accelerate the cultivation and expansion of low-altitude economic agents, promote the improvement of low-altitude infrastructure, low-altitude science and technology innovation environment, and low-altitude multi-scenario applications, promote the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy and related industries, and take into account the actual situation in our city.

1. Cultivate and expand low-altitude economic agents

(1) Support low-altitude economic headquarters enterprises. Support is given to enterprises headquartered in the low-altitude economy sector in the city in accordance with the economic policy of the Guangzhou headquarters. For R&D and manufacturing enterprises, corresponding conditions such as operating income of 100 million yuan or more in the previous year can be recognized as headquarters enterprises. Each enterprise is rewarded up to 1 million yuan per year, and various guarantees such as household registration for talents, talent green cards, talent apartments, admission to school for children, green channels for tax processing, government services, and travel between Guangdong, Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macao. (Lead unit: Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Finance Bureau)

(2) Encourage capacity building projects for R&D, manufacturing, operation, inspection and testing of low-altitude complete machines. The municipal finance supports 2% of the fixed asset investment amount; for major projects with fixed asset investment of 10 billion yuan or more, the municipal finance supports 5% of the fixed asset investment amount (excluding provincial and district support funds) for complete aircraft such as manned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), flying vehicles, and non-manned drones, etc., and projects with a fixed asset investment of 500 million to 10 billion yuan (not including provincial and district support funds). (Lead unit: Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Finance Bureau)

(3) Encourage supporting projects for key industries. Vigorously cultivate low-altitude key equipment, core components, and material development enterprises, and support the construction of manufacturing projects such as main control chips, power systems, flight control systems, communication and navigation monitoring systems, airframes, avionics systems, key materials, and drone countermeasures in the city. For projects with a fixed asset investment of 500 million to 10 billion yuan (not included), the municipal finance supports 2% of the fixed asset investment amount; for major projects with fixed asset investment of 10 billion yuan or more, the municipal finance supports 5% of the fixed asset investment amount (excluding provincial and district support funds).

Support low-altitude key equipment, core components, materials and software enterprises to carry out product development and promotion and application, actively apply for the first (set) key technical equipment, the first batch of new materials, and the first software release project, and give financial rewards to eligible products in accordance with relevant policies. (Lead units: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Finance Bureau)

(4) Strengthen efforts to cultivate high-quality enterprises in the low-altitude field. Coordinate the use of provincial and municipal funds to support manned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), flying vehicles, drones, and supporting enterprises to apply for national specialized and refined “Little Giants” and individual manufacturing championships. Reward funds are “free to use”. (Lead units: Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Finance Bureau)

II. Construction of low-altitude infrastructure

(5) Accelerate the construction of low-altitude infrastructure. Give full play to the guiding role of financial resources to plan and build hubs, vertical take-off and landing sites, drone test sites, automatic duty hangars, drone take-off and landing cabinets, etc. adapted to the needs of low-altitude aircraft routes. Encourage enterprises to participate in the construction of low-altitude intelligent networks, as well as aircraft take-off, landing, parking support bases, and public test sites, etc., to open up a green channel for project approval. Support rail transit stations, wharves, bus stations, and highway service areas that are in a position to do so to participate in low-altitude infrastructure construction and transformation. Eligible projects support the filing of local government special bonds, ultra-long-term treasury bonds, and policy financial instruments, and are included in the green channel for key municipal projects. (Lead units: Guangzhou Airport Economic Zone Management Committee, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Housing, Urban-Rural Development Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources)

3. Strengthen low-altitude scientific and technological innovation

(6) Support key core technology research and development. Research institutions and enterprises in the city are encouraged to focus on key technical research in the fields of R&D and manufacturing of core components in the low-altitude industry, software development, service application, etc., and actively undertake major national and provincial scientific research tasks. Support leading enterprises to form innovation consortia with small and medium-sized enterprises, universities, and research institutes upstream and downstream of the industrial chain to organize and implement a number of major municipal science and technology projects, and receive no more than 10 million yuan in funding to those set up. (Lead unit: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

(7) Support enterprises to apply for airworthiness certification. For enterprises engaged in R&D, manufacturing, and airworthiness certification in the city, which have obtained manned or unmanned aerial vehicle type certification (TC) and production license (PC) issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the municipal finance provides a one-time subsidy of 15 million yuan for large manned unmanned aerial vehicles with a maximum take-off weight of more than 150 kg; for large cargo unmanned aerial vehicles, a one-time municipal financial subsidy of 1.5 million yuan according to the model. Each enterprise shall fund no more than 15 million yuan during the validity period of the policy. (Lead unit: Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Finance Bureau)

(8) Support the creation of high-end innovation carriers and innovation alliances. Encourage all types of enterprises, institutions of higher learning, and scientific research institutions to strengthen the construction of high-end innovation carriers for the low-altitude economy, and actively build platforms such as national key laboratories and national engineering research centers in the field of low altitude certified by national ministries and departments (bureaus). Support the establishment of low-altitude economic innovation alliances and encourage enterprises within the alliance to carry out industrial collaboration. (Lead units: Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Education, Guangzhou Airport Economic Zone Management Committee)

(9) Encourage the development of low-altitude economic standards and regulations. Low-altitude economic enterprises or institutions in the city are encouraged to take the lead or participate in drafting international standards, national standards, industry standards, local standards and industry regulations on low-altitude airspace management, low-altitude operation management, and low-altitude service guarantee management. The standards that have been publicly released and implemented are supported in accordance with the “Guangzhou Quality Development and Standardization Strategy Special Fund Management Measures”. (Lead unit: Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, cooperating unit: municipal relevant industry authorities)

(10) Promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in the low-altitude economy. Support relevant enterprises, universities, and scientific research institutions in the low-altitude economy to establish specialized technology transfer agencies to promote the implementation and transformation of scientific and technological achievements. Give full play to the guiding role of science and technology capital to support the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in the low-altitude economy through project compensation, risk compensation, and investment and loan linkage. (Lead units: Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)

IV. Expanding low-altitude economic application scenarios

(11) Support the establishment of routes for manned and unmanned driving application scenarios. Encourage enterprises to provide manned flight services for low-altitude aircraft for intra-city transportation and intercity transportation. The maximum annual subsidy for a single route is 1 million yuan per year, and the annual subsidy for a single enterprise is no more than 2 million yuan for each manned driverless application scenario that has been opened and approved by the competent authority, with an annual subsidy of at least 2 million yuan. (Lead unit: Municipal Transportation Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

(12) Support the establishment of routes for freight application scenarios. Expand innovative scenarios for multi-modal transport of low-altitude cargo, and promote the implementation of low-altitude emergency and medical rescue systems, and drones+smart logistics scenarios. For low-altitude cargo application scenarios that have been opened and approved by the competent authorities, the maximum annual subsidy for a single route is 500,000 yuan, and the annual subsidy for each enterprise is no more than 2 million yuan. (Lead units: Municipal Transportation Bureau, Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Municipal Finance Bureau)

(13) Encourage the development of low-altitude service businesses. Encourage private institutions to actively carry out training for jobs related to the low-altitude economy, such as drone pilots and drone installation and maintenance workers. Support enterprises, colleges and social training evaluation organizations to apply for certification of professional occupations in the low-altitude flight industry and carry out corresponding grade certification work. (Lead unit: Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau)

(14) Encourage the expansion of applications in the field of public services. Give full play to the government's guiding role in purchasing public services, coordinate the city's low-altitude flight service needs in various fields such as agriculture, forestry, environmental protection, emergency, natural resources, meteorology, water conservancy, public security, transportation, etc., and support the expansion of the application of unmanned aerial vehicles in public service fields such as police aviation, urban management inspection, law enforcement and forensics, medical assistance, forest fire extinguishing, urban fire fighting, emergency disaster relief, land surveying, and traffic command. (Lead unit: Municipal Services and Data Authority)

(15) Encourage the development of low-altitude tourism and air sports businesses. Support aviation operators to develop low-altitude tourism and air sports programs. Subsidies are provided for demonstration projects that use large manned unmanned aerial vehicles with a take-off weight of more than 150 kilograms and an annual flight service of more than 2,000 flights for tourism and sports. The maximum annual subsidy for a single route is 500,000 yuan, and the annual subsidy for each enterprise is no more than 2 million yuan. (Lead units: Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, Municipal Sports Bureau, Municipal Finance Bureau)

5. Strengthen the guarantee of relevant factors

(16) Strengthen the guarantee of low-skilled workers. Encourage colleges and universities in the city that are in a position to do so to actively establish low-altitude related majors and train and transfer industry talents. Step up efforts to introduce high-end talents and teams in the low-altitude field at home and abroad, cultivate senior skilled workers in key areas of the low-altitude economy, and organize enterprises to carry out special recruitment of industrial talents. Promote the implementation of the city's talent policy in the low-altitude economy. (Lead units: Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, Municipal Bureau of Education, Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology)

(17) Strengthen investment and financing support for the low-altitude economy. Initiate 10 billion credit grants for low-altitude industries in Guangzhou, and guide various government industrial funds to set up low-altitude economic sub-funds. (Lead unit: Municipal State-owned Assets Administration Commission, Municipal Finance Bureau)

Encourage financial institutions to innovate financial products and services, organize accurate, efficient and convenient financing matchmaking services, and improve the efficiency of indirect financing. (Lead unit: Municipal Committee Finance Office)

(18) Strengthen land security for low-altitude manufacturing. Plan to build a low-altitude economic and industrial agglomeration area, and select a demonstration park. Focus on “industrial reform”, encourage revitalization and utilization of existing inefficient land, renovation and upgrading of old plants, and provide highly adaptable industrial plants for enterprises or institutions to enter. (Lead units: district governments, cooperating units: Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, Municipal Bureau of Housing, Urban-Rural Development, Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources)

(19) Encourage the development of low-altitude economic insurance. Support insurance institutions to develop special insurance types suitable for low-altitude aircraft and delivery targets, and establish a green channel for rapid claims settlement services for low-altitude insurance. Relevant enterprises and social organizations are encouraged to jointly set up a low-altitude safety and security fund. If personal or property damage cannot be paid in a timely manner due to a low-altitude aircraft, the low-altitude safety and security fund will pay the guarantee in advance. (Lead unit: Municipal Committee Finance Office)

(20) Strengthen low-altitude economic service guarantees. Build a comprehensive low-altitude flight management service platform to provide enterprises with services such as mission application assistance, flight airspace and flight plan coordination and approval, aeronautical meteorology, emergency rescue, and dynamic monitoring, etc., to achieve “one-network acceptance and one-network access” for low-altitude aircraft activities. Law firms are encouraged to provide relevant legal services in the low-altitude field in accordance with the law, and explore dispute resolution mechanisms and paths in the low-altitude field. (Lead unit: Guangzhou Airport Economic Zone Management Committee, Municipal Bureau of Justice)

6. Supplementary Provisions

Low-altitude economy-related enterprises referred to in this measure refer to enterprises with independent legal personality and whose main business is the manufacture, low-altitude flight, operation and support of general aviation and unmanned aerial vehicle components. The concepts referred to as small, medium, and large unmanned aerial vehicles are consistent with the “Interim Regulations on the Administration of Unmanned Aircraft Flight”. Cities and districts of the same type all have incentives and have already enjoyed the policy's non-repetitive rewards.

This measure will take effect from the date of publication and will be valid until December 31, 2026.

This article was selected from the official website of the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, Zhitong Finance Editor: Chen Xiaoyi.