The direct answer: the most specific funding tool found in this review is the "four vouchers" issued by the Changzhou Economic Development Zone on 21 April 2026. The zone allocates RMB 20 million a year. Companies buying compute, model, or corpus services can usually offset no more than 30%, capped at RMB 500,000 per company. The scenario voucher offsets no more than 20%, capped at RMB 300,000. The municipal "AI+Manufacturing" three-year action plan (2026–2028) sets 2028 targets and tasks. It is not a direct subsidy. The two should not be confused.
This article is for Changzhou manufacturing owners, CIOs and IT leaders, finance teams, and the people responsible for grant applications. Research cut-off: 25 October 2026. The policies have trial periods, annual quotas, and platform review. We do not promise approval for any company. Specific conditions are governed by the latest municipal and zone documents. This is not legal advice, and we are not an application agent.
Target numbers are not subsidy amounts. The zone's four vouchers are not citywide. The subsidy is an offset with a quota, a review, and a payment cycle.
- 21 April 2026: the Changzhou Economic Development Zone issued the "Several Measures for Promoting the Innovative Development of the Artificial Intelligence Industry (Trial)," creating the four vouchers for a one-year trial.
- 18 June 2026: Changzhou published the "Three-Year Action Plan for Promoting 'AI+Manufacturing' (2026–2028)," setting 2028 targets and priority tasks.
- 10 August 2026: the Changzhou Industry and Information Technology Bureau published the first batch of the AI service provider capability list, with 74 companies.
- 28 September 2026: the Changzhou Development and Reform Commission published the 2026 second batch of AI+ application scenarios, with 31 scenarios.
In Changzhou's AI+Manufacturing plan, which numbers are targets and which are subsidies?
RMB 40 billion in industry scale, 3,000 PFLOPS of intelligent compute, 500 smart factories at advanced level or above, and 150 scenarios are all 2028 targets. The money a company can actually apply for is the zone's RMB 20 million a year in four vouchers. The two are different in nature.
Start by separating numbers that are easily mixed up. The municipal plan's targets describe direction, tasks, and assessment. The zone's four vouchers are a funding tool with defined ratios, caps, and application conditions. Treating "500 smart factories" as "500 companies can get subsidies," or "RMB 20 million" as "RMB 20 million per company," leads to budget errors.
| Document / number | Nature | How a company can use it |
|---|---|---|
| 2028: AI core industry scale RMB 40 billion; intelligent compute 3,000 PFLOPS (FP32) | Industry target | Judge the city's compute and industry direction; this is not a subsidy amount a company can apply for |
| 2028: 500+ new advanced-level or above smart factories; 150 AI+Manufacturing typical scenarios; 150 intelligent terminal products | Application target | Judge policy priority for smart factories and scenario projects; not automatic selection or an award |
| 2028: 30 high-quality datasets; 30 industrial vertical models; 1 municipal AI industry empowerment center | Capability target | Find datasets, models, diagnostics, and supply-demand matching; services are still procured separately |
| Zone: RMB 20 million a year in four vouchers — compute RMB 10 million, model RMB 5 million, corpus RMB 3 million, scenario RMB 2 million | Funding envelope | Eligible zone companies can apply by voucher type; ratios, per-company caps, and annual totals apply |
| 2026 second batch: 31 AI+ scenarios; first batch: 74 AI service providers | Reference lists | Find comparable scenarios and providers; not a procurement designation or an approval guarantee |
Municipal targets come from Changzhengbanfa [2026] No. 13 (18 June 2026). The four vouchers come from Changjingbanfa [2026] No. 9 (21 April 2026). The municipal plan describes a compute voucher as something to "explore and formulate." The specific rules found in this review are the zone's four vouchers. Other districts follow their own notices.
Municipal plan or zone four vouchers: which should a company apply under?
Start with where the entity and the project sit. The municipal plan sets direction; funding is applied for under the policy of the district where the project is located. Only entities legally operating in the zone and meeting the conditions should look at the four vouchers. Other districts cannot copy them.
The municipal three-year action plan is carried out by the municipal industry and information technology bureau, development and reform commission, science and technology bureau, and other departments. For companies, the usual entry points are AI+Manufacturing application diagnosis, the tiered smart factory program, scenario lists, provider matching, and district-level supporting policies. It is not a single citywide "subsidy application form."
The zone's four vouchers are a defined funding tool. Eligible entities must legally operate in the Changzhou Economic Development Zone, have no major administrative penalty or criminal record in the past three years, and not be on the list of seriously illegal or dishonest entities. The policy has been on a one-year trial since 21 April 2026. There is a quota for 2026, but that does not mean funds are available at any point in the year.
Companies in Xinbei, Wujin, Zhonglou, Tianning, Jintan, or Liyang cannot treat the ratios in this article as their own policy. The correct order is: confirm where the project entity is registered or operates and where the project is located, then check that district's application notice for the year. If no rules exist, do the project diagnosis and budget first. Do not assume a subsidy.
What does each of the four vouchers cover, and how much?
Compute, model, and corpus vouchers generally offset no more than 30%, capped at RMB 500,000 per company. The scenario voucher offsets no more than 20%, capped at RMB 300,000, and requires completing an open-call challenge task. It can stack with the first three.
| Voucher | Annual total | What it offsets | Ratio / cap | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compute voucher | RMB 10 million | Companies buying compute services through the "Zhiyun Changjingkai" platform; individual entrepreneurs (OPC) or small startups buying tokens | Companies ≤30%, max RMB 500,000 each; OPC/small startup tokens ≤90%, max RMB 100,000 a year | Must buy on the platform; token vouchers are used quarterly, one per quarter; the 90% rate does not apply to ordinary companies |
| Model voucher | RMB 5 million | Calls to third-party large-model APIs deployed or listed on the platform | ≤30%, max RMB 500,000 each | The model must be deployed or listed on the platform; training a self-developed model is not a model voucher |
| Corpus voucher | RMB 3 million | Corpus purchased from non-related parties for large-model R&D and applications | ≤30%, max RMB 500,000 each | Related-party corpus does not qualify; qualifying data products have a separate special voucher, and if it is unused, a reward of up to RMB 150,000 can be applied for |
| Scenario voucher | RMB 2 million | After completing an open-call challenge scenario task, offsets compute, model, or corpus purchases in the scenario build | ≤20%, max RMB 300,000 each | Only for scenario companies that complete the task; not all AI projects; can stack with the first three |
The table follows the original text of Changjingbanfa [2026] No. 9. For most voucher types, an entity may use one per year, with the offset paid the following year. If claims for a voucher type exceed its annual total, the amount is prorated. The policy applies a "higher, better, no duplication" rule.
Which companies qualify, and which costs are excluded?
Entities legally operating in the zone, with no major penalty or criminal record in the past three years and not on the serious dishonesty list, can apply. Usually only compute, model, corpus, and scenario costs are covered. Hardware, implementation, and labor are mostly outside the scope.
| Dimension | Eligible / covered | Not eligible / needs confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| Entity qualification | Legally operating in the Changzhou Economic Development Zone; no major administrative penalty or criminal record in the past three years; not on the serious illegal or dishonest list | Registered only in another district with no zone operating entity or project; serious dishonesty or penalty record |
| Compute costs | Compute services purchased through the "Zhiyun Changjingkai" platform; token costs for OPC or small startups | Offline self-procurement not ordered on the platform; ordinary companies calculating token costs at 90% |
| Model costs | Third-party large-model APIs deployed or listed on the platform | Self-developed model training, models not listed, general software licenses |
| Corpus costs | Corpus bought from non-related parties for large-model R&D and applications | Related-party transactions; corpus with unclear use or ownership |
| Scenario costs | Scenario construction after completing an open-call challenge task set by the zone's economic development bureau, purchasing compute, models, or corpus | Ordinary IT projects, projects not on the task list, hardware, construction, or labor inside the scenario |
| Other costs | Compute, model, corpus, and scenario costs listed in the policy | Hardware, implementation services, consulting, travel, salaries, office software, and other unlisted costs cannot be assumed eligible |
| Duplicate support | The same matter may choose the more favorable policy under "higher, better" | Repeated same-level fiscal funds for the same matter; duplication with higher-level or other district policies is handled under the no-duplication principle |
This table is an editorial summary, not an official review checklist. "Not listed" does not mean an absolute prohibition. The review criteria of the platform, the zone economic development bureau, and the annual application notice prevail.
How do you apply, and when is the money paid?
Apply through the "Zhiyun Changjingkai" platform and offset the cost at the time of purchase. Models, corpus, and scenarios need listing review. Most vouchers are paid the following year. Token vouchers are quarterly and capped at RMB 100,000 a year. If the quota runs out, amounts are prorated.
| Step | What to do | Evidence / notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Confirm eligibility | Check entity location, credit record, and whether project costs are in scope | Business license and credit commitment; rule out the assumption that hardware or implementation is covered |
| 2. Enter the platform | Register on "Zhiyun Changjingkai" and select listed or displayed compute, model, and corpus services | Models, corpus, and scenarios need joint departmental review before listing |
| 3. Apply to use | Apply for the matching voucher at purchase or order time and offset according to the platform process | Keep platform orders, contracts, invoices, payment receipts, and usage records |
| 4. Complete the project | Use compute, models, or corpus for real R&D or application; the scenario voucher requires completing the open-call task | Scenario task statement, acceptance materials, and go-live or operation evidence |
| 5. Review and payment | After platform or departmental review, payment is made centrally once a year; if the quota is insufficient, amounts are prorated | Most vouchers are paid the following year; token vouchers quarterly; payment is not made on signing |
| 6. Keep records | Retain contracts, invoices, payments, usage logs, and project acceptance materials | For audit and spot checks; related-party transactions, subcontracting, and fake invoices are high-risk |
The process is based on the policy text and public platform information. The specific material list, application windows, and payment batches follow the latest notice from the zone economic development bureau or the platform. The policy has a one-year trial, and part of the 2026 quota may already be used.
For a RMB 1 million AI project, how much could actually be offset?
With RMB 200,000 of compute, RMB 100,000 of model API, and RMB 100,000 of corpus, the three vouchers come to about RMB 120,000. If the company completes an open-call challenge and adds the scenario voucher, the maximum is about RMB 200,000. It is not 30% of the project total.
Many budgets write "total project investment × 30%" as the subsidy. That is the most common error. The four vouchers offset by cost type, not by total project value. Implementation, hardware, and labor are usually outside the listed scope. The example below is hypothetical. The numbers are for calculation only, not a quote, and do not mean approval is likely.
| Cost item | Amount | Offsettable | Calculation / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute service | RMB 200,000 | Compute voucher | 200,000 × 30% = RMB 60,000; per-company cap RMB 500,000 |
| Third-party model API | RMB 100,000 | Model voucher | 100,000 × 30% = RMB 30,000; model must be deployed or listed on the platform |
| Non-related-party corpus | RMB 100,000 | Corpus voucher | 100,000 × 30% = RMB 30,000; related parties do not qualify |
| Implementation services | RMB 500,000 | Not in listed scope | Cannot assume 30%; subject to review |
| Hardware | RMB 100,000 | Not in listed scope | Cannot assume 30% |
| Subtotal | RMB 1,000,000 | Three vouchers about RMB 120,000 | 60,000 + 30,000 + 30,000 = RMB 120,000, or 12% of the project total |
| Add scenario voucher | Eligible base RMB 400,000 | Up to about RMB 80,000 | 400,000 × 20% = RMB 80,000; requires completing the open-call challenge; total about RMB 200,000 |
Assumptions: the entity is in the zone, credit conditions are met, all costs go through the platform, quota remains, and review is approved. Annual proration, tax, and cash flow are excluded. RMB 120,000–200,000 is an offset ceiling, not a cash grant, and it does not cover implementation or hardware.
Budgets should therefore separate "offsettable costs" from "non-offsettable costs" and put the subsidy payment date into the cash-flow plan. If a company has a total budget of RMB 1 million but arranges financing as if RMB 300,000 will be subsidized, implementation and hardware still have to be paid and a gap is likely.
How should the scenario and supplier lists be used to choose a project?
The scenario list shows what the city considers worth doing. The supplier list shows who has relevant capability. Neither is a procurement designation or an approval guarantee. Companies still need a POC, quotes, and acceptance criteria as a second filter.
The 2026 second batch contains 31 scenarios covering production operations, intelligent inspection, supply chain, energy, healthcare, and urban governance. Manufacturing-relevant examples include Weiyi Zhizao's flexible loading and unloading, Borui Electric's process improvement, Zhongtian Steel's smart steelmaking, Xingyu Automotive Lighting's supply chain resource scheduling, and Autoliv's welding defect detection. These are projects on the official list. That does not mean they received the four vouchers, and it does not mean a company of the same size can replicate the same returns.
The first supplier capability list contains 74 companies, collected and published by the municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau. Its value is reducing the information cost of finding a provider. It is not an official endorsement or a ranking. At selection, verify at least: same-industry cases, whether the project team will be on site, data and model ownership, interfaces and private deployment capability, acceptance metrics, and operations and exit terms.
- Define the scenario first: choose one quantifiable problem from inspection, scheduling, equipment maintenance, shop-floor reporting, or supply chain collaboration. Do not buy an "AI platform" first.
- Then define the costs: split the budget into compute, model, corpus, implementation, and hardware, and determine which fall inside the four-voucher scope.
- Shortlist three: look at same-scale cases and POC plans, not just list membership. Require the key scenario to run on the company's real data.
- Write acceptance terms: put accuracy, recall, takt, human takeover rate, downtime, and month-end closing time into the contract.
- Calculate the whole account: a subsidy does not change project ROI. Include implementation, integration, training, operations, and cash flow.
For more detail on implementation cycles and acceptance metrics, see the enterprise AI agent implementation guide in the Insights archive. For budget breakdowns for ERP/MES/OA and AI projects, see the ERP/MES/OA cost and private AI deployment guides there as well.
Who do LingMOE and LingHarness fit, and who do they not?
They fit Changzhou manufacturers working on AI, ERP/MES integration, private deployment, or agent implementation who are willing to start with a diagnosis and a POC. They do not fit projects that only want to buy hardware, chase a subsidy, and have no owner for data or scenarios.
LingMOE, Lingyi's AI manufacturing platform, covers integrated ERP, MES, and OA. It fits single-plant and multi-plant manufacturers that already have ERP but have fragmented shop-floor execution, reporting, inspection, or approvals, and that need data boundaries and private deployment. It can support policy-related application diagnosis, scenario scoping, and data and interface mapping. It is not a guarantee of approval, and it is not a package where "buying the product gets you a voucher."
LingHarness, Lingyi's AI foundation, fits companies that need private model access, agent orchestration, permissions, and data isolation. If the company has no clear scenario and no data owner, a diagnosis is more sensible than buying a base first. A subsidy only reduces some eligible costs. It cannot replace the business case.
Our recommended order is: run a tightly scoped POC on a real pain point, confirm measurable benefit, then decide whether to expand the project and apply for the matching voucher. To assess Changzhou policy fit and project scope, book a conversation. We do not promise a subsidy amount or an approval outcome.
FAQ
Does Changzhou have a municipal compute voucher?
The municipal "AI+Manufacturing Three-Year Action Plan (2026–2028)" proposes to "explore and formulate inclusive application policies such as compute vouchers." The specific funding rules found in this review are the zone's four vouchers, published in April 2026. Whether a unified municipal application rule exists and when it will be published should be checked against the latest notices from the Changzhou Development and Reform Commission and the Industry and Information Technology Bureau. "Explore and formulate" does not mean applications are open.
Can a company registered in Xinbei apply for the zone's four vouchers?
The zone policy applies to market entities legally operating in the Changzhou Economic Development Zone and meeting credit conditions. A company registered only in Xinbei usually cannot use it directly, unless it has an eligible entity or project in the zone and the economic development department confirms it. Other cities and districts may have similar policies; check their notices. The zone's four vouchers are not citywide.
Is the subsidy paid upfront or offset afterwards?
It is not a cash grant paid first. The policy describes an offset: companies apply when buying compute, models, or corpus on the platform or completing a scenario task, and the cost is reduced by a percentage. For most voucher types, an entity may use one per year, with the current year's offset paid the following year. Token vouchers are used quarterly, with an annual cap of RMB 100,000. Companies need cash flow to pay first.
Can a RMB 1 million AI project receive RMB 300,000?
Not necessarily. The four vouchers cover only the compute, model, corpus, and scenario costs listed in the policy. Hardware, implementation, consulting, and labor are not listed and cannot be assumed to qualify at 30%. With RMB 200,000 of compute, RMB 100,000 of model, and RMB 100,000 of corpus, the three vouchers come to about RMB 120,000. Completing an open-call challenge and adding the scenario voucher brings the maximum to about RMB 200,000, subject to quota, review, and proration.
Can every AI project get a scenario voucher?
No. The zone economic development bureau publishes an AI+Manufacturing open-call challenge task list. The voucher is issued only after a company completes a specific scenario task and is used to offset compute, model, or corpus costs in that scenario build. Ordinary procurement projects and projects not on the task list cannot assume eligibility.
Does choosing a company on the supplier list guarantee approval?
No. The Changzhou AI service provider capability list is an official collection of capability references. It is not a designated procurement, not a ranking, and not a guarantee that a project will be approved. Companies still need to verify provider cases, team, data security, delivery, and contract terms, and use a POC and acceptance criteria as a second filter.
First confirm whether the entity and project fall inside the zone's policy. Then split the project into eligible compute, model, corpus, and scenario costs and apply through the platform. The subsidy is an offset with a quota and a payment cycle, not 30% of the project total in cash.
Sources and caveats
This article combines public policy research with editorial calculations. It is not first-hand research, a tested application, or an official review conclusion. Policy texts come from public pages of the Changzhou Municipal People's Government, the Changzhou Economic Development Zone, the Changzhou Development and Reform Commission, and the Changzhou Industry and Information Technology Bureau. Voucher amounts, ratios, and terms follow Changjingbanfa [2026] No. 9; municipal targets follow Changzhengbanfa [2026] No. 13. Policies may change and quotas may run out. Applications are governed by the latest notice and platform review. This article does not promise approval or a subsidy amount, and it is not legal or tax advice.
Research cut-off: 25 October 2026. All sources are public pages; dates, scope, and application conditions are governed by the originals.
- Changzhou Municipal People's Government, "Notice on Issuing the Changzhou Three-Year Action Plan for Promoting 'AI+Manufacturing' (2026–2028)" (Changzhengbanfa [2026] No. 13, 18 June 2026). changzhou.gov.cn. Targets, priority tasks, and safeguards; the municipal reference to a compute voucher is "explore and formulate."
- Changzhou Economic Development Zone, "Several Measures for Promoting the Innovative Development of the Artificial Intelligence Industry (Trial)" (Changjingbanfa [2026] No. 9, 21 April 2026, published 22 April 2026). jkq.changzhou.gov.cn. Total four-voucher budget, ratios, caps, eligible entities, platform, and payment rules.
- Changzhou Municipal People's Government, "RMB 20 Million a Year: Changzhou Economic Development Zone Establishes 'Four Vouchers' to Support AI Industry Innovation" (11 May 2026). changzhou.gov.cn. Public summary of the four vouchers for checking totals and voucher types.
- Changzhou Development and Reform Commission, "2026 Second Batch of AI+ Application Scenarios" (Changfagai [2026] No. 188, 28 September 2026). changzhou.gov.cn. 31 scenarios with implementing units, content, and results; inclusion is not a subsidy list.
- Changzhou Industry and Information Technology Bureau, "Notice on Publishing the Changzhou AI Service Provider Capability List (First Batch)" (10 August 2026). changzhou.gov.cn. 74 providers; capability reference, not designated procurement or a ranking.