Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: Will Launch Support Program for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneurship

This morning, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to brief on the development of industry and information technology in the first quarter of 2026.

Relevant officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that since the beginning of this year, the economic performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has remained stable and improved overall, with production accelerating and benefits improving.

In the first quarter, high-quality SMEs represented by specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative “Little Giants” showed strong performance, with the added value of industrial “Little Giants” above designated size growing by 10.2% year-on-year.

The newly launched and implemented Measures for the Gradient Cultivation and Management of High-Quality SMEs clearly states that technology-based SMEs are included in the scope of gradient cultivation. It will establish and improve a proactive mechanism for identifying high-quality enterprises, and actively uncover potential enterprises based on data such as industrial chain and supply chain information, equity investment, and intellectual property.

Tao Qing, Director of the Operation Monitoring and Coordination Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: “We will unify the recognition standards for specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs across all regions, introduce development evaluation for specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs, strengthen dynamic management, and guide enterprises to achieve high-quality development. For enterprises of different types and at different stages, we will provide precise, categorized, and tiered services.”

It is understood that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will advance and implement a three-year action plan for the gradient cultivation of high-quality enterprises. It will carry out a plan to support AI-enabled entrepreneurship among SMEs and a special action to empower SME development with inclusive computing power. It will support localities with the necessary conditions to explore building specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative empowerment centers. It will release the “15th Five-Year Plan” to promote the development of SMEs, set up the second phase of the National SME Development Fund, and drive more services to directly reach SMEs.
(CCTV News)