China to enhance enterprises’ role as core driver of innovation: minister

China is stepping up efforts to solidify the role of enterprises as a core driver of innovation, and enhance monetary help for small and medium-sized scientific-technological enterprises, Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun mentioned in an interview aired on Sunday.

In the interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Yin outlined the ministry’s roadmap for the opening yr of the nation’s fifteenth Five-Year Plan for nationwide socioeconomic improvement within the 2026-2030 interval.

“We will strengthen the principal status of enterprises in technological innovation decision-making. We’ll support state-owned and private enterprises in deeply engaging in national sci-tech innovation decision-making, with more attention given to enterprise opinions in the formulation of major strategies, major plans, and major policies. We will also strengthen the principal status of enterprises in organizing scientific-technological research. More efforts will be made to support enterprises in taking on or participating in more national major scientific research tasks, establish mechanisms for enterprise projects to be elevated to national projects, support leading sci-tech enterprises in building innovation consortia with various key players in innovation, such as universities, research institutes, and SMEs, and build sci-tech innovation platforms and bases to promote integrated innovation across the upstream and downstream industrial chain,” Yin mentioned.

In May 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with six different competent central authorities businesses, rolled out 15 concrete measures to promote monetary providers for sci-tech innovation, to enhance the nation’s self-reliance and power in science and know-how.

In December final yr, the nationwide enterprise capital steering fund was launched as half of efforts to mobilize extra affected person capital for revolutionary and future industries.

Looking forward, the ministry plans to additional refine a sci-tech finance system tailor-made to innovation wants, scale up financing help for small and medium-sized sci-tech companies, and streamline channels for changing scientific and technological analysis achievements into relevant know-hows, in accordance to Yin.

“We will keep improving the implementation mechanisms for preferential tax policies on scientific and technological innovation, raise the additional tax deductions for enterprises’ research and development expenses, and lead enterprises to increase their research and development investment. We will also strengthen enterprises’ principal status in practical application of scientific-technological research achievements, enhance their capacity to absorb and apply scientific-technological research achievements, accelerate efficient application of major sci-tech research achievements, and promote incubation and cultivation of sci-tech SMEs. The Ministry of Science and Technology will work together with other competent authorities to keep strengthening coordination and implementation of policies, and providing sustained and strong policy support for enterprises’ scientific-technological innovation,” mentioned the minister.

An thrilling wave of revolutionary winter tourism experiences is drawing guests to the icy elements of China, as locations rework ice and snow sources into immersive, experience-driven points of interest that increase native consumption and improvement.

In Jiuru Mountain Scenic Area in Jinan City, east China’s Shandong Province, towering icefalls fashioned by the world’s canyon terrain and sustained winter chilly create a spectacular frozen panorama.

Covering round 30,000 sq. meters, dense icicles and ice curtains grasp like crystal glass, providing guests a primary viewing season.

This winter, the scenic space has creatively integrated fireplace components, putting in greater than 100 stoves and log cabins all through the park, creating a novel scene with “a stove available every few steps and a wooden cabin every 100 meters.”

“The experience is really amazing and far beyond my expectations,” mentioned a vacationer named Tian Yujuan.

Beyond sightseeing, the vacationer attraction has additionally launched greater than 20 inventive handicraft studios the place guests could make sachets and sweets, whereas its snow play park that options ice sleds and snow tubing has change into particularly widespread with households.

Since the New Year’s Day, each customer numbers and working revenues on the web site have greater than doubled yr on yr.

In Yinchuan City, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, native points of interest are additionally increasing winter choices by way of a “snow and ice plus” mannequin.

On the Yuehai Lake, vacationers sporting specifically designed crimson protecting fits float calmly in icy water in an exercise recognized as “ice floating”. The fits characteristic heat-locking internal layers and high-buoyancy outer layers, making certain heat and security, whereas on-site pictures providers use drones and cameras to seize the expertise.

“On weekends, I am willing to come to nearby cities to experience this kind of effortless relaxation. I find it quite stress-relieving,” mentioned a vacationer.

In Pingxiliang Village, a small mountain village in suburban Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, ice and snow tourism has change into a catalyst for rural revitalization.

Once a particularly impoverished village, Pingxiliang has developed winter cultural tourism by leveraging native sources.

Nowadays, greater than 80 % of households within the village function homestays, and 236 villagers work in tourism, with associated revenue accounting for over 70 % of the whole income.

Meanwhile, on the Sayram Lake in Xinjiang, winter guests are flocking to newly created blue ice waterfalls — every about 10 meters excessive and protecting a complete space of 15,000 sq. meters.

Built by employees who erected helps and sprayed water beginning in November, the frozen formations protect the pure form of cascading water, making a placing man-made icefall.

Shared extensively on social media, the blue ice waterfalls have change into a brand new must-see vacation spot for winter vacationers to the Sayram Lake.