On August 31st, the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the *Notice on Carrying out a Special Campaign to Cultivate Artificial Intelligence Application Service Providers* (the "Notice"). The Notice outlines clear objectives: using the special campaign as a guide, it aims to establish a resource pool for AI application service providers, sharply improve their capabilities in technological innovation, integrated delivery, and security compliance, and forge a team of AI application service providers who understand industry pain points, are well-versed in technological mechanisms, are aware of security risks, and excel in delivery operations.
According to the Notice's targets, by the end of 2026, the number of service providers in the national resource pool will surpass 2,000, forming a multi-level echelon with a sound structure, clear division of labor, and collaborative innovation, with significantly enhanced capabilities in 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 characterized by full-factor collaboration, complete chain integration, and full-scenario coverage.
The Notice defines AI application service providers as enterprises or institutions that offer services such as consulting and planning, implementation and delivery, operations management, and security governance for AI solutions, addressing the intelligent needs of user organizations. Pan Helin, a member of the MIIT's Information and Communication Economic Expert Committee and a renowned economist, said in a WeChat interview that these AI application service providers essentially serve as enterprises that empower other businesses by providing AI solution services.
The State Council's *Opinions on Deeply Implementing the "AI+" Action*, released in August 2025, proposed cultivating AI application service providers and developing new models such as "Model-as-a-Service" and "Agent-as-a-Service" to build an AI application service chain. Pan Helin noted that the current special campaign is designed to construct a multi-level service provider echelon that is well-structured, orderly in division of labor, and collaborative in innovation, keeping pace with the expanding scope of AI applications and realizing large-scale implementation of AI applications. It also aims to elevate the service standards of AI providers and optimize the supply of AI services.
The special campaign deploys four key tasks: establishing a service provider resource pool, enhancing the level of service supply, promoting large-scale application, and strengthening support and guarantees for service providers. Regarding the resource pool, the Notice requires regions to survey their local service providers (including central enterprises registered locally) and establish files for them. By the end of 2027, provinces under the jurisdiction of national AI industry innovation and application pilot zones should have no fewer than 100 local providers in their resource pools. The MIIT will consolidate information from regional resource pools and, based on relevant standards, form and periodically release a national service provider resource pool.
On improving service supply, the Notice urges the organization of "AI application service teams" led by service providers, focusing on areas like model-data resonance and computing-power-electricity synergy, to jointly create integrated solutions with upstream and downstream partners. To strengthen support, the Notice encourages service providers to enhance cooperation with national computing network hub nodes, national computing interconnection nodes, and China's computing platforms, leveraging policy tools like "computing vouchers" to reduce computing costs. It also encourages universities and vocational colleges to co-build training bases with leading service providers to cultivate a batch of composite application talents who "understand business, master models, know security, and can deliver." Furthermore, service providers are encouraged to build Field Deployment Engineer (FDE) teams that are stationed at user sites to ensure scenario implementation.
Zhao Gang, President of the Sai Zhi Industrial Research Institute, stated in an interview that the purpose of this special action is to advance the implementation of the "AI+" action across various industries. It aims to train a group of FDEs who understand both AI technology and industry operations, cultivate AI application service providers with FDEs as their core talent, and foster the development of the AI application industry.
Regarding scaling applications, the Notice states that service providers will be guided to encapsulate modular and standardized solution product packages around high-frequency, critical, and reusable business processes, resulting in a series of "small, fast, light, and precise" AI product services. Using platforms like industry alliances, trade associations, and open-source communities, targeted supply-demand matchmaking activities will be conducted across industries to promote service providers. Furthermore, a batch of real-world scenarios will be opened to actively involve service providers in implementation practices, driving their technological R&D and outcome transformation, creating benchmark solutions, and generating demonstration effects.
Simultaneously, the Notice explores adopting models such as "first-purchase, first-use" and risk compensation to increase procurement of services like large models, agents, and tokens, enhancing the quality and efficiency of industry-wide model and intelligence adoption. In eligible regions, a comprehensive "going global" service system will be established, leveraging cooperation platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative, BRICS, and China-ASEAN mechanisms to facilitate the overseas implementation of high-quality AI application projects.
Pan Helin explained that "first-purchase, first-use" refers to a system where government agencies and public institutions use fiscal funds to prioritize purchasing innovative products that are entering the market for the first time and have not yet established commercial performance. This mechanism is designed to incentivize accelerated innovation in the AI industry. "Risk compensation, through financial subsidies, insurance mechanisms, and other means, shares the risks buyers might face when trying out new technologies. The main goal is to lower the 'trial-and-error costs' and encourage enterprises to dare to try new technologies," he added.
Zhao Gang elaborated that large model and agent technologies are relatively new and may be immature, potentially leading to hallucinations or security issues. To encourage enterprises to be the "first to eat the crab," the first-purchase, first-use policy encourages government and large enterprise users to be the first buyers and users, offering service providers market opportunities, application scenarios, and validation cases. "With first purchases comes potential risk. If risks emerge during trial and error, the government provides compensation, encouraging experimentation," Zhao Gang said. He emphasized that such policy measures to encourage application can create demonstration effects and facilitate wider adoption and promotion.
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