During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Hangzhou achieved significant results in cultural exports, with a cumulative total of 95 enterprises (counted by occurrences) and 54 projects designated as National Key Cultural Export Enterprises and Projects, ranking first among similar cities nationwide. Among these, 688 Hangzhou-produced online series/films obtained distribution licenses, with online animation production accounting for 31% of the national total. The introduction of these Measures aims to consolidate existing advantages and, through the dual drivers of “policy + funding,” build a full-chain service system for cultural “New Trio” enterprises from creative inception to overseas markets, assisting them in sailing into the “deep blue sea.”

Substantial Rewards for Original Quality Works, with Support up to 5 Million RMB: The policy focuses on supporting high-quality projects that exemplify Chinese culture and possess international appeal. For creations showcasing Hangzhou’s image with promising market prospects, support can reach up to 20% of the actual investment, capped at 3 million RMB. Projects that have already received national-level support are eligible for matching funds up to 2 million RMB. High-value award incentives are established: for web novels and web series winning authoritative domestic or international awards, the maximum reward is 5 million RMB; for games winning international awards like The Game Awards (TGA) or Golden Joystick Awards (GJA), the maximum reward is 3 million RMB.

Strong Support for Overseas Distribution, with Direct Funding for Market Expansion: For original games that have been online for at least one year, tiered support is provided based on market performance. For annual overseas sales exceeding 50 million RMB, support is 2‰ of the actual shared revenue; exceeding 1 billion RMB increases the support rate to 2.5‰, with a maximum of 3 million RMB per enterprise per year. Additionally, for games with a 7-day retention rate of no less than 15%, up to 30% of costs related to overseas testing (e.g., server leasing, user acquisition) are supported, with a maximum of 300,000 RMB per item per year.

Encouragement of Self-Branding, Subsidies for Cultural Trade Promotion: Enterprises are encouraged to conduct self-brand promotion via overseas platforms. For “New Trio” enterprises whose cultural trade export volume reaches a certain scale, 25% of their promotion expenses are supported, with a maximum of 1 million RMB per enterprise per year, directly reducing the cost of overseas brand building.

Driving “Culture + Technology”, with R&D Subsidies up to 5 Million RMB: Enterprises are encouraged to increase R&D investment in key technological areas such as game engines, AI translation, and creation tools. Tiered support is provided based on the enterprise’s R&D investment, up to 3 million RMB. For enterprises undertaking national or provincial-level key scientific research tasks, matching funds of 25% of the actual received subsidy are provided, reaching a maximum of 5 million RMB, vigorously promoting technological integration and innovation.

Attracting Global Talent, Implementing Comprehensive Support Guarantees: Active efforts are made to attract high-level and young talent in the “New Trio” fields to develop in Hangzhou. In accordance with existing municipal policies like the High-Level Talent Classification and the “Spring Rain Plan”, systematic guarantees for housing, education, healthcare, and other services are implemented, reserving core momentum for sustained industrial innovation.

Systematic Policy Implementation: From “Product Export” to “Ecosystem Expansion”

The Measures are jointly promoted by multiple departments including the Municipal Publicity Department, Commerce Bureau, Science and Technology Bureau, and Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. Their systematic nature is reflected in three strategic leaps:

From “Chartering Ships” to “Building Ships for Long Voyages”: The policy not only subsidizes later-stage distribution but also front-loads rewards for original creation and R&D, encouraging enterprises to develop their own IP and core technologies to master the initiative in global expansion.

From “Single Hits” to “Whole-Chain Collaboration”: Coverage extends to every link from creation, testing, and distribution to brand promotion and trade, complemented by support for technology R&D and talent, aiming to foster a sustainable industrial ecosystem.

From “Content Export” to “Value Resonance”: By supporting quality works that “reflect Hangzhou’s charm and possess international appeal”, the policy promotes cultural expansion beyond simple product trade towards deeper-level cultural value dissemination.

While introducing heavyweight global expansion policies, Hangzhou is simultaneously strengthening foundational industrial systems. The Hangzhou High-tech Zone (Binjiang) has taken the lead in issuing the province’s first Model Contract for Online Game Services in Zhejiang. This model text clarifies key issues such as virtual property protection, personal information protection, intellectual property ownership of UGC content, and refund principles for minor consumption, aiming to balance the rights of operators and users and safeguard the healthy, standardized development of the industry.

From the global phenomenon of Black Myth: Wukong to the current powerful empowerment through systematic global expansion policies, Hangzhou is clearly charting a new path for cultural expansion—one based on the digital economy, centered on quality content, driven by technological innovation, and supported by precise policies. With the implementation of this package of “real money” measures covering the entire chain, Hangzhou, as the “Nation’s Top Digital Economy City”, is poised to transform its first-mover advantage in the cultural “New Trio” sector into the leadership to define new trends in global digital cultural consumption, providing a solid “Hangzhou Solution” for the high-quality global expansion of Chinese culture.