China is set to establish a government-backed national venture capital guidance fund, which aims to mobilize 1 trillion yuan ($138.01 billion) from social capital to support technology startups. The fund will primarily focus on “hard technology” sectors, such as semiconductors, renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and hydrogen energy storage, according to Zheng Shanjie, head of China’s state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
This new investment vehicle will be structured as a public-private partnership, and it is designed to maintain long-term investment cycles, demonstrating greater risk tolerance. The goal is to support early-stage technology enterprises through market-based methods, allowing for greater flexibility and innovation.
The announcement came a day after Premier Li Qiang told lawmakers that China aims to sustain economic growth at approximately 5% this year, despite challenges posed by tariff pressures. As part of broader efforts to foster technological breakthroughs and enhance self-reliance, China also stated it would bolster support for AI application and venture capital investment.
The fund will prioritize cutting-edge technologies like AI and quantum computing, alongside energy innovations such as hydrogen energy storage. It will focus on investing in seed-stage and startup companies, leveraging market-oriented approaches to drive growth in these strategic areas, as reported by state media CCTV.