The State Council released a circular on May 19 to improve the sci-tech commissioner system in an effort to boost mass entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas.

The sci-tech commissioner system is designed to guide sci-tech personnel and institutions to go into rural areas and carry out technological entrepreneurship and services by integrating modern production elements, such as technology, information, capital and management.

Such efforts will drive the in-depth development of entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas, and help the integration and development of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries, the circular said.

The circular also urged increasing policy support to cultivate rural innovative businesses and service platforms, and enhance the combination of technology and finance, with the goal of creating a good environment for entrepreneurship in rural areas.

One of the main tasks, according to the circular, is leading local governments and social forces to engage in innovation of agricultural technology, help achieve new and practical results in the fields of breeding, new fertilizer and farm chemicals, processing and storage, agricultural internet of things, intelligent equipment and people’s livelihood, and step up promotion and industrialization of sci-tech research.

The circular also emphasized establishing entrepreneurship bases for sci-tech commissioners, building mass entrepreneurship in agricultural fields and rural areas, improving service platforms for entrepreneurship, lowering entrepreneurship access and risks, and creating a favorable environment for sci-tech commissioners, college graduates and local talents to start up businesses.

In addition, universities, research institutes and local governments are encouraged to set up institutes focusing on new rural development studies and comprehensive service demonstration bases to provide agricultural technology services in rural areas.

Sci-tech personnel at universities, research institutes and enterprises are encouraged to carry out entrepreneurship services in rural areas with expertise, the circular said. Meanwhile, college students, returned migrant workers, demobilized soldiers, and rural youths and women are also encouraged to get involved in sci-tech entrepreneurship.

Commissioners selected from universities, administrative institutions and vocational schools will continue to have incomes and posts with their original institutes for five years. College student commissioners who start their own businesses can get various support from financial institutes, industry associations and other social entities, according to the circular.

Furthermore, support will be strengthened for commissioners who start their own businesses, through building a comprehensive financing mechanism, granting credit and increasing loans to commissioners, and attracting social capital to rural businesses. Tax relief policies will also be directed to agricultural businesses, such as farmers’ specialized cooperatives, the circular added.