Beijing has become one of the preferred destinations for foreign-funded R&D institutions and technology enterprises that establish centers in fields such as life sciences and medicine, new-generation information technology, advanced manufacturing, new materials, new energy, and energy conservation.

In March 2022, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the Zhongguancun Administrative Committee, and the Municipal Bureau of Commerce have issued regulations to support the establishment and development of foreign-funded R&D centers in Beijing. 

From the five aspects of talent services, scientific research incentives, intellectual property, business environment, and local protection, the regulations proposed 20 measures to accelerate the development of foreign-funded R&D institutions. 

The foreign-funded R&D incentive plan will provide support to newly established R&D centers in Beijing. Funds will be given to "not more than 2 percent of R&D investment and 10 million yuan ($1.46 million)" and "not more than 5 percent of platform investment and 5 million yuan" to promote R&D activities.

It is necessary to provide convenience in a practical way, clearly streamlining the registration, talent protection, tax, and other related government service matters of foreign-funded R&D centers into the municipal government service center. 

In June 2022, the first batch of "Foreign-funded R&D Incentive Plan" launched by the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Zhongguancun Administrative Committee supported six foreign companies, including Novo Nordisk, Airbus, and Hitachi, to increase their R&D investment. 

As of now, 29 foreign-funded enterprises, including Intel, AstraZeneca, Hitachi, and ABB Transmission, have been recognized as Beijing's first batch of foreign-funded R&D centers. Nearly 70 percent of them are concentrated in cutting-edge industries such as information technology, medicine and health, and artificial intelligence, with a total R&D investment of over 2 billion yuan in 2021.