Several Measures to Support the High-quality Development of the Low-altitude Economy in Shenzhen

In order to implement the planning and deployment of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and the Shenzhen Municipal Government on "20+8" strategic emerging industry clusters and future industrial development and the overall requirements for the construction of a low-altitude economic center, seize the strategic opportunity of intensive innovation and high-speed growth of the low-altitude economy industry, and promote the high-quality development of low-altitude economy industry clusters, the measures are formulated.

1.Attracting and training enterprises in the low-altitude economy chain

(i) Attracting low-altitude economy enterprises to settle in the city. For newly settled (operating in the city for less than one year) low-altitude economy enterprises, with business scope of eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft and large and medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicle R&D and manufacturing of the whole aircraft, R&D and manufacturing of core parts and commercial operation, etc., with paid registered capital of 20 million yuan or more, and after signing a cooperation agreement with the municipal government or the government of a particular district where they have settled, and promising that the scale of production value (operating revenue) in the second year will not be less than 40 million yuan, they will be given incentives of no more than 20 million yuan, equivalent to 5% of the paid-up registered capital, upon completing the commitment in the second year. At the same time, the municipal and district governments will work together to provide the newly settled enterprises with comprehensive support in terms of land supply, site construction, equipment purchase and talent introduction. 

(ii) Supporting low-altitude economy enterprises to increase capital and expand production. For major industrial investment projects or local industrial investment projects of listed companies with a total investment of 500 million yuan or more in new projects of low-altitude economy enterprises, a subsidy of no more than 50 million yuan will be provided at a rate not exceeding 20% of the total investment in fixed assets actually incurred in the project.

Encouraging the district governments to increase land supply for the capital increase and production expansion of the city's low-altitude economy enterprises.

(iii) Supporting the technological transformation of low-altitude economy enterprises. Encouraging low-altitude economy enterprises to implement high-quality technological transformation, improve the level of intelligent, green and integrated development of enterprises, and provide financial assistance in accordance with a certain percentage of the total investment in the project. Bank loans and financial leases for technological transformation projects will be subsidized at a certain percentage of the total project investment.

(iv) Strengthening support for key enterprises. Strengthening the efficient and precise supply of key elements such as space, technology, capital, talent, data and energy, and encouraging qualified low-altitude economy enterprises to apply for the qualifications as national high-tech enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products. Comprehensively utilizing various tools such as credit, bonds, financial guarantees and industrial funds, strengthening the accurate matching of financial supply and demand, and supporting the cultivation and development of "small giant" companies that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products, manufacturing single champions and hidden champions in the field of low-altitude economy.

(v) Accelerating the industrialization of manned eVTOL and other low-altitude aircraft. Accelerating the industrialization of manned eVTOL aircraft, flying cars and other applied products. For the low-altitude economy companies engaged in the actual operation of the research and development of manned eVTOL aircraft and flying cars in Shenzhen and achieving sales, rewards shall be given at a certain percentage of sales.

2. Encouraging technological innovation in enterprises

(vi) Encouraging the research and development of key industrial technologies. Focusing on the field of aircraft systems and flight support, encouraging the upstream and downstream of the industry to unite with universities and research institutes to carry out core technology research and development, and supporting low-altitude economy enterprises operating in the city to promote research and development mainly focusing on the software and hardware capabilities of aircraft bodies and low-altitude flight support related technologies. Projects approved will receive a subsidy of no more than 30 million yuan.

(vii) Supporting the transformation and promotion of technological achievements. For qualified first set of equipment and first version of software, a subsidy of no more than 10 million yuan will be provided, calculated at a rate of 30% of the actual gross sales of the products within one year. Enterprises with top market share will be included in the pool of manufacturing single champion enterprises, and a one-time reward, capped at 2 million yuan, will be granted to enterprises that have been honored with the title of "Manufacturing Single-category Champion" at either the national or Shenzhen level.

(viii) Supporting airworthiness certification for eVTOL aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Incentives will be given to low-altitude economy enterprises that have obtained eVTOL aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle type qualification certificates and production licenses issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and are operating in the city, with 15 million yuan for eVTOL aircraft, 5 million yuan for large unmanned aerial vehicles, and 3 million yuan for medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles. Each enterprise will be funded up to 30 million yuan per year, and the same model will be rewarded only once.

3. Expanding low-altitude flight application scenarios

(ix) Encouraging the expansion of the low-altitude logistics market. Rewards will be given to low-altitude economy enterprises that open new routes for low-altitude logistics and distribution in Shenzhen (with at least one origin or destination in Shenzhen). Among them:

• Small unmanned aerial vehicles: A one-time reward of 200,000 yuan will be given for each new route that obtains the approval of the competent industry department and operates on a regular basis (more than 5,000 sorties  completed annually). In the first year, enterprises will be given a reward of 400,000 yuan for each additional 20,000 sorties of annual operation. Starting from the following year, for the new routes opened by the enterprise, the incremental part of the total number of flights compared with the previous year will be rewarded according to the same standard.

  
  

• Large and medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles: A one-time reward of 350,000 yuan will be given for each new route that obtains approval from the competent industry department and operates on a regular basis (more than 1,000 sorties completed per year). In the first year, enterprises will be rewarded 800,000 yuan for each additional 20,000 flights of annual operation. Starting from the following year, the enterprise will be rewarded according to the same standard for the new routes opened and the increment of total flights compared with the previous year.

The total amount of the above two incentives for each enterprise shall not exceed 20 million yuan per year.

(x) Encouraging the opening of short-haul air transportation routes. Rewards will be given to low-altitude economy enterprises that open short-haul transportation routes in Shenzhen that have obtained the approval of the competent industry authorities and are ticketed in public channels and operate on a regular basis. Among them:

• Domestic routes (with at least one starting or ending point in Shenzhen and a route distance of no less than 25 kilometers): a one-time reward of 300,000 yuan for each domestic route (with an annual execution of no less than 100 sorties) in the first year; and 300,000 yuan for each increase of 100 flights by the enterprise. Starting from the following year, for the new routes opened by the enterprise, the incremental part of the total number of flights compared to the previous year will be rewarded according to the same standard. The annual incentive for each enterprise shall not exceed 6 million yuan.

• Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-border routes: a one-time reward of 1 million yuan for each Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-border route; 500,000 yuan for each additional 100 flights flown by the enterprise.

(xi) Cultivating new urban air mobility business models.

A one-time reward of 1 million yuan will be granted to the first eVTOL commercial air route operation enterprise in Shenzhen that obtains approval from the industry regulatory department. To encourage the development of low-altitude passenger transport using clean energy, rewards will be given to eVTOL commercial operation routes and flights in accordance with the reward standards for short-haul transportation routes within the territory.

(xii) Encouraging the expansion of multi-field applications. 

City and district departments are encouraged to include low-altitude emergency rescue, medical aid, and other public services, as well as auxiliary government services like smart inspections, in their government procurement service catalogs under the city's guiding directory. Enterprises will receive support in expanding the commercial applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, and eVTOL aircraft in areas such as power line inspections, port inspections, aerial photography and surveying, and agricultural and forestry protection, as well as in developing services like aerial tours and formation performances. National innovation demonstration competitions and UAV racing events will be held. The integration of low-altitude flight with rail and airport transportation will be facilitated to continuously enrich the new business models of the low-altitude economy.

4. Improve the industrial supporting environment

(xiii) Support for low-altitude infrastructure development. 

Districts are encouraged to advance low-altitude infrastructure construction based on the principle of complementary and additional investment. As part of the city's rapid advancement as a pioneering urban center, the construction of information infrastructure such as 5G-A application demonstrations and innovative satellite communications will be promoted. Eligible districts are encouraged to develop general aviation operational support bases, public unmanned aerial vehicle test sites, and landing fields for eVTOL aircraft and medium to large unmanned aerial vehicles. One-time subsidies will be provided for privately invested public drone test sites, landing fields, and essential public infrastructures including communication, navigation, and surveillance systems upon completion and operational launch.

(xiv) Attracting high-end talent for the low-altitude economy

Top-tier global talent in the low-altitude field will be actively recruited by offering comprehensive support packages, including career platforms, research funding, team support, and living allowances. Eligible high-end talent in the low-altitude economy will be supported to apply for Shenzhen's industry development and innovation talent award, with a maximum reward of 1.5 million yuan. Subsidies will be provided to foreign high-end and urgently needed talent working in Shenzhen, based on the difference in individual income tax burdens between the mainland and Hong Kong, for those who meet the criteria. Professionals with high-value international qualifications are encouraged to innovate and start businesses in Shenzhen, and authoritative international professional qualifications in the low-altitude economy field will be included in the city's professional title recognition list.

(xv) Supporting the creation of high-end innovation platforms

Enterprises, universities, and research institutes are encouraged to establish innovative research institutions in the low-altitude economy in the city. Financial support will be provided for national key laboratories, national engineering research centers, and key civil aviation laboratories set up in Shenzhen. National key laboratories and national engineering technology research centers will be rewarded according to the city's existing policies. Eligible key civil aviation laboratories will receive up to 10 million yuan, not exceeding 30% of the project investment amount. Additionally, a city-district collaboration approach will be adopted to offer comprehensive support in areas such as site construction, equipment procurement, scientific research, and talent acquisition.

(xvi) Encouraging the development of low-altitude economy standards and regulations

Research institutions, industry associations, industry alliances, and enterprises engaged in related activities in Shenzhen are encouraged to lead the formulation and publication of international, national, industry, and local standards in the fields of low-altitude manufacturing, applications, and support. Upon recognition, rewards of 1 million yuan, 500,000 yuan, 300,000 yuan, and 200,000 yuan will be provided, respectively. Each applicant can receive a cumulative annual reward of up to 5 million yuan.

(xvii) Leveraging State-owned enterprises to increase State capital investment

The supply of public infrastructure will be enhanced. Municipal and district governments are encouraged to actively unlock existing land resources and support the participation of private capital in the construction and operation of low-altitude flight infrastructure. Low-altitude flight infrastructures developed through private capital investments are encouraged to be opened to and shared with the public.

(xviii) Leveraging government special funds and investment guidance funds

Special funds targeted at low-altitude economy industry clusters will be established, along with a mechanism linking these funds with investment guidance funds. The low-altitude economy industry fund will be established to guide and promote support from existing sub-funds for investments in low-altitude economy projects. Efforts will be made to actively seek injections from national-level manufacturing funds, fully leveraging the advantages of fund investments, attracting enterprises with core technological competitive advantages to settle in Shenzhen, and actively utilizing industrial funds and other financial channels to conduct industry mergers and acquisitions, thereby accelerating industrial development.

(xix) Innovating financial services for the low-altitude economy

Financial institutions are encouraged to develop loan products such as pure credit, low-cost loans, medium-to-long-term technology research and development loans, and technology upgrade loans for the low-altitude economy industry. Insurance companies are encouraged to create specialized insurance products tailored for commercial applications in logistics, passenger transport, urban management, and other low-altitude sectors. This initiative aims to expand coverage and align with commercial drone scenarios, establishing a comprehensive drone insurance service system with extensive risk coverage.

(xx) Supporting exchange and promotional activities

Enterprises, institutions, associations, universities, and research institutes in the low-altitude economy sector of the city are encouraged to host low-altitude economic summits, high-end exhibitions, and academic conferences in Shenzhen to enhance the influence of the low-altitude economy. Full funding of up to 3 million yuan will be allocated for conferences, forums, and exhibitions organized in Shenzhen under the auspices of the municipal government, verified by specialized auditing agencies as actual project implementation costs. For conferences, forums, and exhibitions organized by social organizations, 20% of the verified actual project implementation costs, as confirmed by specialized auditing agencies, will be rewarded, with a maximum limit of 3 million yuan.

5.Supplementary Provisions

The term "low-altitude economy enterprises" as used in these measures refers to companies with independent legal status whose main business involves general aviation, the research and manufacturing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), low-altitude flights, operations, and support within the low-altitude economy chain. The definitions of small, medium, and large UAVs are consistent with those stated in the Interim Regulations on the Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flights issued by the State Council and the Central Military Commission.

These measures and other similar preferential measures at the same level of the city are subject to the enterprise's choice of application and an enterprise will not be rewarded redundantly. Applications from entities disclosed by Credit China, Credit China (Guangdong), or Credit China (Guangdong·Shenzhen), and listed on the joint disciplinary blacklist for dishonesty or as untrustworthy persons subject to enforcement, will not be accepted. If an applicant falsifies information to fraudulently obtain rewards or subsidies, the relevant departments shall recover the awarded or subsidized funds and pursue legal action in accordance with the law.

These measures are interpreted by the Office of the Leading Group for Low-Altitude Economy Development of Shenzhen Municipality. Each responsible unit shall, in accordance with their respective duties, promptly formulate and issue detailed implementation rules or operating procedures. District governments (including the Dapeng New Area Management Committee and the Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone Management Committee) are encouraged to introduce coordinated supporting policies for the low-altitude economy. If the proposed reward or subsidy exceeds the specified limits stated in the corresponding clauses, it will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

These measures shall be implemented from the date of printing and distribution and will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2026.