On August 31, the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a notice regarding the launch of a special action for nurturing artificial intelligence application service providers. The full text is as follows: Artificial intelligence application service providers (hereafter referred to as service providers) are enterprises or institutions that provide services such as consulting and planning, delivery and implementation, operational management, and security governance for AI solutions, addressing the intelligent transformation needs of user organizations.
To thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, and to fulfill the work arrangements outlined in the State Council's "Opinions on Deeply Implementing the 'AI+' Action" — specifically the directives to "cultivate AI application service providers" and "build an AI application service chain" — the special action for nurturing AI application service providers is hereby initiated. The relevant matters are notified as follows:
1. Action Objectives
Driven by this special action, the goal is to establish a resource pool for service providers, precisely enhance their capabilities in technological innovation, integrated delivery, and security compliance, and forge a team of AI application service providers who understand industry pain points, grasp technical principles, are aware of security risks, and excel in delivery and operations. By the end of 2026, the number of service providers in the national resource pool is expected to exceed 2,000, forming a multi-tiered structure that is rationally organized, clearly delineated in division of labor, and characterized by collaborative innovation, with significantly enhanced capabilities for delivering complex scenarios. By the end of 2027, the national resource pool should contain no fewer than 3,000 service providers, supporting the formation of an AI application service ecosystem with full-factor synergy, full-chain integration, and full-scenario coverage.
2. Key Tasks
Task One: Establish a Service Provider Resource Pool. All regions are required to survey and document local service providers, including central enterprises registered locally, and establish service provider files. By the end of 2027, provinces hosting national AI industry innovation application pilot zones must have no fewer than 100 enterprises in their local service provider resource pools. The MIIT will aggregate resource pool information from all regions, form a national service provider resource pool based on relevant standards, and release it in due course.
Task Two: Enhance Service Supply Capabilities. Service providers will be organized to lead the formation of "AI application service teams" focused on areas such as model-data resonance and computing-power-electricity coordination, working with upstream and downstream partners to create integrated solutions. Leveraging local innovation platforms like national AI application pilot bases and technology enterprise incubators, regions should provide service providers with foundational conditions for technology R&D, testing and validation, and pilot-scale maturation, accelerating solution innovation and supporting the growth of service providers as "specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative" enterprises. Service providers are encouraged to tackle key technical challenges in areas such as software-hardware adaptation and multi-model collaboration. Providers should also be supported in enhancing their integration capabilities for foundational software and hardware products, including secure and reliable operating systems, databases, and AI training and inference chips. Security risk information and incident alerts regarding various AI software and hardware products should be promptly disseminated to service providers. Service providers should also be guided to embed management requirements for cybersecurity, data security, ethical governance, and business compliance throughout the entire R&D, deployment, and application process, shifting from reactive response to proactive prevention.
Task Three: Promote Large-Scale Application. Service providers will be guided to focus on high-frequency, essential, and reusable business needs, encapsulating modular and standardized solution product packages to develop a range of "small, fast, lightweight, and precise" AI products and services. Leveraging platforms such as industry alliances, trade associations, and open-source communities, targeted supply-demand matching activities will be conducted by industry, accompanied by promotional outreach for service providers. A number of real-world scenarios will be opened to actively engage service providers in implementation practices, facilitating their technological R&D and the commercialization of results, creating benchmark solutions and driving demonstrative effects. Procurement of services such as large models, agents, and tokens will be strengthened through models like first-purchase-first-use and risk compensation, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of model and intelligence adoption across industries. In regions with the necessary conditions, comprehensive "going global" service systems will be established, leveraging cooperation mechanisms and platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative, BRICS, and China-ASEAN to facilitate the overseas deployment of high-quality AI application projects.
Task Four: Strengthen Support and Safeguards for Service Providers. Service providers will be supported in strengthening connectivity with national computing power network hub nodes, national computing power interconnection nodes, and the China Computing Power Platform, utilizing policy tools such as "computing vouchers" to reduce computing costs. Intelligent programming tools will be optimized to enhance software supply capabilities. Leveraging outcomes from initiatives like "model-data resonance" and "industrial data foundation," including scenarios, data, models, and agents, regions should open call interfaces or provide trial access channels to service providers. Universities and vocational colleges are encouraged to jointly build training bases with leading service providers to cultivate composite application talents who "understand business, master models, know security, and can deliver." Service providers are also encouraged to establish Field Deployment Engineer (FDE) teams to remain embedded at user sites and ensure the successful implementation of scenarios.
3. Work Arrangements
(1) Regions shall compile service provider files, establish local service provider resource pools, and submit this information to the MIIT (Department of Science and Technology) in accordance with relevant reporting requirements by December 1, 2026, with periodic updates to the resource pool content. (2) Regions shall organize service providers to establish "AI application service teams" and submit team information alongside the resource pool data. In principle, each region should report no fewer than 10 service teams, with each team led by one service provider and involving at least two upstream or downstream entities in joint participation. (3) The MIIT will establish a routine tracking and evaluation mechanism, organize industry experts for on-site guidance, dynamically monitor progress and phase-level results, and coordinate efforts to resolve difficulties and bottlenecks encountered during implementation. Regions shall summarize the completion of each task and submit final reports by December 1, 2027. The MIIT will organize an overall assessment of implementation outcomes, systematically identifying and summarizing achievements including benchmark service providers, solutions, and service teams.
4. Organizational Safeguards
The MIIT will enhance overall coordination and guidance, promptly researching and resolving major issues and key matters arising during the special action. Regions demonstrating effective implementation outcomes will receive preferential support in relevant policies and projects, with increased efforts to promote the application of results. The MIIT will also establish an online platform for the AI application service provider resource pool in due course to facilitate information sharing and utilization. Local industry and information technology authorities are encouraged to strengthen policy support and provide corresponding supporting resources to service providers. Contact: Department of Science and Technology, MIIT, Tel: 010-68205250.