Beijing to invest 1st batch of over 1.5 billion yuan in high-tech industries

Beijing plans to invest more than 1.5 billion yuan (220 million U.S. dollars) this year as its first batch of funding to accelerate the development of high-tech and cutting-edge industries.

At a press conference held on Thursday, the city's Bureau of Economy and Information Technology announced the release of the first batch of funding and policy guidelines to support high-tech industry development and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in 2026.

The first round of guidelines focuses on priority tasks in high-tech sectors and the long-term industrial vision for the 15th Five-Year (2026-2030) Plan. Efforts include promoting innovation, accelerating commercialization, improving quality and efficiency, and supporting the growth of high-potential enterprises.

More than 1.5 billion yuan will be invested to support over 10 key industries, including integrated circuits, biomedicine, new materials and energy, information software, and the digital economy.

To support enterprise innovation and the commercialization of research results, Beijing will provide market validation opportunities for innovative products in fields such as robotics, integrated circuits, and new materials. It will also fund the first-time application of robotic solutions in domestic settings including factories, retail, logistics, and agriculture.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the city will continue its push to become a global model for green economic development, with a strong focus on building advanced green energy systems and low-carbon, environmentally friendly industries.

"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we'll focus on 10 key sectors for development and cultivate new growth engines. By 2030, we aim to exceed one trillion yuan in industrial output. Development in the advanced green energy sector will prioritize hydrogen energy, new energy storage, wind and solar power, fusion energy, smart grids, and energy-efficient and integrated energy services," said Hu Qian, director of Energy Saving and Comprehensive Utilization at the Beijing Bureau of Economy and Information Technology.

Focusing on future industries, Beijing has also launched a growth plan this year, aimed at nurturing promising early-stage companies. The program will offer up to 10 million yuan in startup funding for projects that show strong technological innovation, clear development paths, and high potential.

Beijing to invest 1st batch of over 1.5 billion yuan in high-tech industries

The Iranian government on Wednesday released footage it says was of missile debris from the deadly school attack in Minab, Iran's southern province of Hormozgan, on Feb 28, providing fresh evidence that the United States military was behind the attack.

The video obtained by China Media Group (CMG) from the Iranian government shows that some of the fragments said to be from the missile are marked with detailed information, including the place of origin, manufacturer and serial number of the parts. Markings such as "Made in USA" and "Raytheon Company" can be clearly seen on the debris.

The United States has repeatedly denied carrying out the attack on the elementary school in Minab, where Iranian state media says at least 165 people were killed, most of them young girls.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei reiterated in an exclusive interview with CMG on Tuesday that the school was hit by missiles twice on Feb 28, with the second attack coming as rescuers gathered at the site, resulting in a large number of casualties.

Baghaei said the United States and Israel must be held responsible for such criminal acts.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that an ongoing military investigation has preliminarily determined that the deadly school attack was the result of a targeting error.

Officials briefed on the investigation told the newspaper that officers at the U.S. Central Command generated the strike coordinates using outdated intelligence provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, leading to the targeting mistake.

The findings are preliminary, and key questions remain unresolved, including why the outdated information was not double-checked, officials quoted by the newspaper said.

Iran says new evidence proves U.S. behind deadly school attack