Nanshan unveils measures to support low-altitude economy, AI

Enterprises that settle in Nanshan District and help support the growth of low-altitude economy can receive a one-off award of up to 100 million yuan (US$13.82 million), according to the latest measures released by the district for promoting industrial high-quality development.

A one-time reward of up to 100 million yuan will be given to qualified enterprises for settling down in the district.

The incentives are applied to enterprises that introduce new large and medium-sized industrial drones, drones for industrial applications, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft for cargo and manned transport, as well as those engaged in key components and raw material supplies for avionics, power energy, airframe materials, and mission payloads.

Enterprises are encouraged to carry out low-altitude infrastructure construction and support the development of low-altitude logistics.

According to the measures, subsidies will be provided to enterprises that open new low-altitude logistics routes and flights for medical, emergency, and delivery purposes with at least one starting or ending point in Nanshan District.

The opening of small and large and medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicle routes is also supported by relevant measures, with each enterprise receiving no more than 10 million yuan per year.

To foster the urban air traffic market, Nanshan will give rewards to low-altitude economy enterprises for opening short-haul transportation routes and eVTOL commercial operation routes in the district.

The maximum annual reward for each enterprise is 1 million yuan. An annual special fund of no more than 15 million yuan is allocated to purchase urban air transportation travel experience vouchers, which will be distributed to some enterprises, high-level professionals, and residents in the district.

Such enterprises are also encouraged to explore the application of low-altitude flight connectivity in transportation hubs, core commercial districts and tourist attractions.

Nanshan encourages enterprises to expand their operational flight activities and purchase liability insurance, and provides a one-time subsidy of 20% of the annual total premium amount, with a maximum of 2 million yuan.

Statistics showed that Nanshan has gathered over 160 enterprises in the UAV industry. The district’s consumer drones account for over 70% of the global market share.

Nanshan has also rolled out measures to spur the high-quality growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Qualified innovation platforms are able to receive an annual subsidy of up to 20 million yuan after review and approval.

According to the measures, Nanshan supports top domestic and international AI innovation teams to settle in the district, and provides up to 3 million yuan in financial support for newly registered or relocated large model and generative AI enterprises.

The district currently has three provincial-level AI industrial parks, with nearly 2,000 companies with AI patents and more than 1,100 core AI enterprises, forming a whole industrial chain.