Visitors view integrated circuit for cars during the 17th China International Semiconductor Expo in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 3, 2019. 

[Photo/Xinhua FangZhe]

China's State Council issued a circular on Tuesday to further optimize the development of the integrated circuit industry and the software industry.

The circular entitled "Several Policies to Promote the High-quality Development of an Integrated Circuit Industry and Software Industry in the New Era" formulates policies and measures covering eight aspects, namely, finance and taxation, investment and financing, research and development, import and export, talents, intellectual property rights, market applications, and international cooperation. This will provide strong support for the integrated circuit and software industries.

The circular points out that China will vigorously support qualified integrated circuit companies and software enterprises to get listed and raise funds at home and abroad. China will speed up the domestic listing review process and capitalize on research and development expenditures that meet the relevant conditions of the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises. China will also encourage and support qualified companies to become listed and raise funds on the science and technology innovation board and the growth enterprise market, and the exit channels for the original shareholders of relevant companies will be streamlined.

The circular actively provides guidance for the development of information technology research and its development and application in businesses that lead to service outsourcing. "By purchasing services, government departments should be encouraged to hire qualified software, and information technology service institutions will need to take care of the service matters in e-government construction, data center construction and data processing works, which are within the scope of government responsibilities but can be accomplished with market measures."

In terms of education, the circular says that more efforts will be made to develop integrated circuit and software learning and cultivate high-end talent in universities. For example, the establishment of a first-level discipline for integrated circuit studies will be accelerated. Qualified universities will be encouraged to cooperate with enterprises to build demonstrative schools of microelectronics.

In addition, global cooperation among these industries was also mentioned. The circular encourages international companies to build research and development centers in China, and it will help Chinese enterprises to go abroad, build research and development centers overseas and make further use of international innovative resources.

(You can also read it at: http://www.china.org.cn/business/2020-08/07/content_76357030.htm)