Recently, Shandong Province introduced the Implementation Plan for the High-quality Development of Iconic Industrial Chains Led by Sci-tech Innovation (2024-2027). Focused on tackling key technological challenges based on industrial demand, the plan aims to improve the quality and efficiency of traditional industries and advance the agglomeration and growth of new industries.

In recent years, Shandong has made a big push to concentrate innovative resources on iconic industrial chains. In terms of national platforms, the province has established 21 national key laboratories and three national sci-tech innovation centers, all of which are focused on iconic industrial chains. In terms of provincial platforms, more than 70% of the provincial key laboratories and all provincial sci-tech innovation centers are concentrated in iconic industrial chains. In terms of talent resources, over 80% of high-level talents including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering who live in the province are gathered in iconic industrial chains.

Next, Shandong will focus on 29 key areas of the 11 iconic industrial chains and strategically establish a batch of innovation platforms; focus on major sci-tech projects, gather high-level talents and other innovative resources and comprehensively enhance the innovation capabilities of key industries; support SMEs characterized by a high proportion of R&D investment, high compound growth rate, high market share and core competitive technology to carry out technological innovation. Each year, 600 high-tech "little giant" enterprises and 200 leading high-tech enterprises will be nurtured, aiming to not only increase the number of high-tech enterprises but also improve their quality.