Beijing’s Big Bet: ¥30 Million RMB Rewards to Supercharge Game R&D with AI, Large Models & Data Governance

Hold onto your headsets, because Beijing is rolling out some serious support for its game and esports scene!

The Beijing Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department (Beijing Shiwei Xuanchuan Bu 北京市委宣传部) and other key departments just dropped “Support Measures (Trial)” designed to propel Beijing’s game and esports industry to new heights.

The core idea? Incentivize killer tech innovation and application.

We’re talking about the deep fusion of cutting-edge tech like Artificial Intelligence (人工智能) and AIGC with the entire game and esports pipeline.

This initiative aims to fast-track how innovative tech gets used in every stage, from initial game research and development to ongoing operations.

This is a significant move showing Beijing’s commitment to leveraging advanced tech like computing power and large models to boost game companies.

The measures are crystal clear: for companies stepping up their R&D game, especially in areas like Artificial Intelligence, game engines, and even extended reality, big things are in store.

If you’re a game company looking to boost R&D efficiency and embrace intelligent tech upgrades using computing power infrastructure, large model deployment, and smart data governance, listen up.

Beijing is putting its money where its mouth is, offering rewards of up to a whopping ¥30 million RMB ($4,137,931 USD) based on eligible project investments.

This is all part of a broader strategy to accelerate “new quality productive forces” in the cultural sector.

The goal is to cultivate fresh business formats, seriously amp up the competitiveness and global influence of Beijing’s game and esports industry, and ultimately, give companies a bigger sense of achievement and contribution.

These measures are aligned with national directives like the National Press and Publication Administration’s (Guojia Xinwen Chuban Shu 国家新闻出版署) “About Implementing the Online Game Publishing Project of Excellence” and Beijing’s own “Several Measures for Cultivating New Cultural Business Formats and Vigorously Developing New Quality Productive Forces in Culture”.

Let’s dive into the specifics.

Support Measures for Promoting the High-Quality Development of Beijing’s Game and Esports Industry (Trial)

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Section One: Turbo-Charging Review Quality and Efficiency

Good news for developers: Beijing is looking to slash review cycle times for games.

They’re beefing up guidance for domestically produced pilot online game publishing applications.

This means:

• More game expert reviewers on board.
• A real push to enhance review capacity and overall quality.

Key districts like Chaoyang District (Chaoyang Qu 朝阳区), Haidian District (Haidian Qu 海淀区), Shijingshan District (Shijingshan Qu 石景山区), and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (Jingji Jishu Kaifa Qu 经济技术开发区) are exploring integrating approvals for domestic online game works into integrated service windows.

Talk about streamlining!

The Beijing Municipal Press and Publication Bureau will lead industry association personnel training.

And the Beijing Municipal Government Affairs and Data Bureau (Shi Zhengwu He Shuju Ju 市政务和数据局) will ensure district government service departments are all synced up.

(Responsible Units: Beijing Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, Beijing Municipal Government Affairs and Data Bureau)

Section Two: Leveling Up Copyright Service Mechanisms

Protecting your IP just got easier and faster.

For imported game contract registration and filing, expect full guidance services.

Copyright registration for your game’s artistic, musical, and video assets? They’re aiming to get it done in 10 working days, down from 22. That’s a significant speed boost.

Beijing is also leveraging administrative-judicial collaborative governance for copyright protection.

This means robust support for:

• Quick and efficient resolution of copyright disputes.
• Copyright mediation mechanisms.
• Cross-regional dispute resolution.
• Guidance on overseas rights protection and risk prevention.
• Litigation risk assessment services.

Plus, under the “notice-and-takedown” rule, they’ll push relevant companies to stop infringement and remove infringing content promptly.

(Responsible Unit: Beijing Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department)

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• Old Service Standard: Approximately 22 working days
• New Service Standard (Target): 10 working days
• Benefit: Significantly faster IP protection

Section Three: Fueling High-Quality Creative Content

The goal is to cultivate fresh business formats, seriously amp up the competitiveness and global influence of Beijing’s game and esports industry, and ultimately, give companies a bigger sense of achievement and contribution.

These measures are aligned with national directives like the National Press and Publication Administration’s (Guojia Xinwen Chuban Shu 国家新闻出版署) “About Implementing the Online Game Publishing Project of Excellence” and Beijing’s own “Several Measures for Cultivating New Cultural Business Formats and Vigorously Developing New Quality Productive Forces in Culture”.

Let’s dive into the specifics.

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• Reward Type: Financial Incentives
• Target 1: Commercially successful high-quality games
• Max Reward (Target 1): ¥5 million RMB
• Target 2: Award-winning titles
• Max Reward (Target 2): ¥500,000 RMB
• Purpose: Encourage culturally significant and competitive game development

Section Four: Supercharging Tech Innovation and Application

This is where that massive ¥30 million RMB ($4,137,931 USD) reward comes into play.

Beijing is pushing for the deep integration of tech like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AIGC with the game and esports industry.

The goal is to speed up the innovative use of tech across all stages of game R&D and operation.

Here’s the breakdown:

• More cultural technology projects applying high-tech to game R&D.
• Support for game/esports companies and market entities to establish themselves in fields like:
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Game engines
  • Game development tools
  • Interactive streaming media
  • Extended reality (XR)
• Encouragement for establishing key laboratories to crack core technical challenges.
• Direct support for game companies to enhance R&D efficiency and undertake intelligent technical upgrades through:
  • Computing power infrastructure
  • Large model deployment
  • Data governance

Eligible projects can receive rewards of up to ¥30 million RMB ($4,137,931 USD) based on their investment. This is a game-changer for R&D funding!

(Responsible Units: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology (Shi Jingji He Xinxihua Ju 市经济和信息化局), Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Zhongguancun Management Committee (Shi Kewei Zhongguancun Guanweihui 市科委中关cun Guanweihui))

Section Five: Building Booming Game & Esports Hubs

Beijing is strategically guiding industry clustering.

Relevant districts are encouraged to develop reward measures for newly established game and esports companies.

There’s a strong push to attract key enterprises.

Funding policies supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be leveraged for eligible game and esports SMEs and innovative startups.

They’re spotlighting specific parks and centers to spearhead this growth, including:

• Chaoyang District Dongjin International Center (Chaoyang Qu Dongjin Guoji Zhongxin 朝阳区东进国际中心)
• Haidian District AI Innovation Street (Haidian Qu Rengong Zhineng Chuangxin Jiej qu 海淀区人工智能创新街区)
• Shijingshan District Shougang Park (Shijingshan Qu Shougang Yuan 石景山区首钢园)
• The Beijing Smart E-sports Center in the Economic-Technological Development Area (Jingji Jishu Kaifa Qu Beijing Zhihui Dianjing Zhongxin 经济技术开发区北京智慧电竞中心)

These hubs are expected to:

• Increase their layout and policy support for the game/esports industry.
• Provide “one-stop” entry services.
• Support R&D, publication, and operation of high-quality games.
• Host esports events and help clubs establish a presence.
• Match publishing resources.
• Offer comprehensive one-on-one services for park enterprises.
• Prioritize recommendations for municipal-level cultural industry park evaluations.

(Responsible Units: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, Beijing Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department)

Section Six: Championing Epic Esports Events

Esports enthusiasts, get ready!

Support for key esports events is now part of the city’s large-scale sports event and culture-commerce-tourism-sports service support mechanism.

The focus is on:

• Hosting international top-tier events and national high-level events.
• Encouraging events in Olympic venues or key sports venues.
• Supporting influential local brand events with strong market value and development prospects.

Beijing is even working on formulating its own esports event grading standards.

And yes, there’s funding:

• Up to ¥5 million RMB ($689,655 USD) for international major esports events held in Beijing.
• Up to ¥3 million RMB ($413,793 USD) for national major esports events in Beijing.
• Up to ¥1 million RMB ($137,931 USD) for key esports events held in Beijing for the first time.
• Up to ¥500,000 RMB ($68,965 USD) for influential local events.
• Up to ¥2 million RMB ($275,862 USD) for hosting game expos and “esports + consumption” activities.

(Responsible Units: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce (Shi Shangwu Ju 市商务局), Beijing State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (Shi Guoziwei 市国资委), Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau (Shi Tiyu Ju 市体育局), Beijing Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department)

Section Seven: Constructing World-Class Venues

Great events need great venues.

Beijing is streamlining support for esports venue construction, covering project approval, land planning, and venue renovation, all while meeting territorial spatial planning requirements.

Got an old factory you want to turn into an esports arena?

There’s support in terms of funding and land, referencing policies like the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission’s (Shi Dagaiwei 市发改委) “Implementation Plan for Strengthening the Renovation and Utilization of Vacated Low-Efficiency Industrial Space to Promote High-Quality Industrial Development.”

They’re also drawing on rules for transitional period support for state-owned construction land in Beijing urban renewal projects from the Beijing Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Commission (Shi Guihua Ziran Ziyuan Wei 市规划自然资源委) and other departments.

Work coordination mechanisms will be established in the venue’s local jurisdiction (suozai辖区 – suozai辖区) to ensure smooth commissioning and operation. Smart planning for long-term success.

(Responsible Units: Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Beijing Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Commission, Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau)

Section Eight: Going Global: Support for Overseas Expansion

Beijing wants its game and esports companies to conquer the world.

They’re fully utilizing support policies promoting new quality productive forces in culture and innovative service trade development.

The aim is to encourage Beijing-based game and esports companies to:

• Explore international markets.
• Use their products for cultural promotion overseas.
• Increase operating revenue.
• Promote event conversion.

Companies that make significant waves with their overseas products can receive assessed rewards of up to ¥5 million RMB ($689,655 USD). Talk about an incentive to think globally!

(Responsible Units: Beijing Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce)

Section Nine: Building a Dream Team: Talent Development

None of this happens without top talent.

Beijing is backing outstanding individuals from game and esports companies by supporting their applications for national and municipal key talent projects, including them in talent funding scopes.

Expect increased support for:

• Introduction of game and esports talents.
• Processing of work and residence permits.

For chief creative personnel whose works are selected for national-level honors like the “Online Game Publishing Project of Excellence” or “Game Top Ten” (Youxi Shiqiang 游戏十强), or individuals selected for national-level talent programs, the requirements for applying for senior professional titles in animation and games can be relaxed. This is a big deal for career progression.

(Responsible Units: Beijing Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, Beijing Municipal Talent Work Bureau (Shi Rencai Gongzuo Ju 市人才工作局), Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (Shi Renliziyuan Shehui Baozhang Ju 市人力资源社会保障局), Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)

Section Ten: Playing by the Rules: Positive Value Guidance

With great power comes great responsibility.

The development of the game and esports industry will be guided by socialist core values, integrating correct content and value orientation throughout the entire process.

This means:

• Strict implementation of various management requirements.
• Effective content management guidance for games and esports.
• Guiding enterprises to consciously fulfill social responsibilities.
• Strengthening industry self-regulation.
• Strictly implementing measures to prevent minors from becoming addicted to online games.

The goal is to foster a healthy ecosystem for games and esports, promote positive publicity for excellent works and players, and guide the public to an objective, comprehensive understanding of the industry.

(Responsible Units: All relevant units)

Section Eleven: Making it Happen: Policy Execution

These aren’t just plans on paper.

A joint working mechanism will be established to promptly address major issues in industry development, strengthen coordination, and create synergy.

Key actions include:

• Promoting policy integration.
• Unblocking information channels.
• Establishing a normalized mechanism for interpreting preferential policies for enterprises.
• Ensuring targeted and integrated policy publicity by municipal/district departments, industry associations, and professional institutions.

All districts are encouraged to introduce their own promotion measures aligned with their regional positioning, aiming for overall planning, coordinated promotion, and comprehensive enhancement of the game and esports scene.

This comprehensive support system, especially the significant rewards Beijing offers to game companies for R&D, signals a major push to elevate its standing in the global tech and entertainment landscape.

(Responsible Units: All relevant units)

References

• Beijing Issues Support Measures for Game and Esports Industry – Jiemian News
• Beijing Municipal Government Official Website – Beijing.gov.cn
• China’s Tech Industry Developments – China Daily
• Research and Innovation in Beijing (Example: Peking University) – Peking University