On March 2, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the National Intellectual Property Administration jointly issued a document titled "Several Opinions on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of Technology Insurance to Strongly Support High-Level Self-Reliance and Strengthening in Science and Technology." The document outlines 20 measures across six areas: strengthening insurance coverage for major national scientific tasks and technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, expanding protection for key sectors, enhancing technology insurance products and services, encouraging insurance fund investments, and improving oversight mechanisms. The aim is to speed up the establishment of a technology insurance system compatible with scientific and technological innovation.
Technology insurance primarily covers risks related to scientific activities and entities involved in innovation. It includes protection against losses in research and development expenses, costs from failed technology transfers, risks in applying and promoting technological achievements, and infringement of intellectual property rights. As a vital component of science and technology finance, technology insurance plays a crucial role in dispersing innovation risks and providing financial support.
The document sets forth overall requirements to build an insurance product and service system that covers the entire innovation chain and lifecycle. It emphasizes increasing support for major national scientific missions and technology-based SMEs, broadening insurance coverage for key innovation fields and critical stages, and strengthening policy support while balancing effective development with risk prevention. The goal is to achieve breakthroughs in technology insurance, expand its scope, improve quality, and enhance its capacity to support high-level self-reliance in science and technology and the construction of a technologically strong nation.
To improve insurance protection for technology-based SMEs, the document specifies efforts to widen the reach of technology insurance. It supports establishing platforms for insurance supply and demand matching in innovation hubs such as incubators, accelerators, university science parks, and high-tech industrial development zones, along with conducting policy promotion and product introductions. Flexible insurance solutions will be offered based on the risk profiles of SMEs and scenarios like "use before payment" for technological outcomes, effectively reducing economic burdens caused by property loss, R&D failure, difficult technology transfers, IP infringement, and AI system liabilities.
Regarding enhanced coverage in key sectors, the document highlights support for technology firms expanding globally. It calls for increased underwriting support from export credit insurance for tech companies and stronger coverage for industrial chains. The system for monitoring and warning of overseas risks will be improved, with expanded safeguards for product exports, capital outflows, and talent mobility. Services providing country-specific risk alerts for overseas investments and high-tech product exports will be offered, alongside broader safety, security, and medical rescue services. Cross-border collaboration on technology insurance claims will be explored to boost companies' capabilities in defending against overseas risks and handling emergencies.
Additionally, the document proposes measures such as establishing a coordinated promotion mechanism and strengthening policy guidance to better support high-level self-reliance in science and technology and the development of a tech-powered nation.