If you are an international founder building in Chaoyang—or considering it—you need to understand the “Chaoyang 15 Measures” (朝15条). This is the district’s most comprehensive talent support package to date, covering housing, office space, R&D, computing, financing, and more.
Here is the good news: if you are connected to ITEC, you are already positioned to access these benefits. As the official international interface for Chaoyang’s innovation ecosystem, ITEC operates the Beijing Chaoyang International Talent Entrepreneurship Park and works directly with district authorities. Our founders don’t navigate these policies alone—they have direct access to the parks, platforms, and partners that administer the 15 Measures.
This article breaks down all 15 measures in plain English, with practical implications for international founders.
Eligibility at a Glance
- Age: Generally under 35; exceptional candidates may be considered up to 40
- Founder status: First-time entrepreneur in Chaoyang; must be the largest shareholder and actual controller in principle
- Company age: Within 3 years of establishment OR relocated into Chaoyang within 3 years
- Sector focus: AI, industrial internet, metaverse, digital healthcare, digital security, data elements, intelligent robotics, and other “Tech+” sectors
- Compliance: Good standing in Chaoyang; no serious-dishonesty entity listings
Note for international founders: Shareholding structure matters. Prepare your cap table, articles of association, and proof of actual control. Co-founder teams should clarify the lead applicant and obtain internal authorization where needed.
The 15 Measures: Complete Breakdown
Measure 1: Three-Month Transitional Housing
What it is: Up to three months of free transitional housing for founders handling startup procedures (name approval, registration, bank account, tax registration).
How it works: District subsidy to housing provider—not cash to you.
The problem it solves: Arriving from overseas with no local rental history or credit profile makes securing housing difficult. This gives you a place to stay while setting up your entity.
Measure 2: Long-Term Rent Subsidy
What it is: Ongoing rent subsidy after the initial transition period.
The support: 20% of rent, max 60 sqm, capped at RMB 2,000/month, up to three years.
The problem it solves: Beijing rents are high. This reduces your largest personal expense during the critical early years when every RMB counts.
Measure 3: Higher Housing Support for Fast-Growing Startups
What it is: Elevated 50% rent subsidy if you meet growth indicators.
Qualification triggers (at least one):
- Revenue above RMB 1 million with 100%+ growth
- RMB 3 million+ in angel financing
- 3+ relevant patents with industrial application
- R&D expenditure above 40% of spending
The problem it solves: As you grow, your housing needs may change. The policy scales with your traction rather than forcing you to reapply from scratch.
Measure 4: Rent-Free Apartments for Top-200 STEM PhDs
What it is: Rent-free talent apartment for founders/co-founders with a STEM PhD from a global top-200 university. Support up to three years.
The problem it solves: Top academic talent often hesitates to relocate due to housing costs. This eliminates the barrier entirely for PhD-level founders.
Measure 5: Postdoctoral Settlement Support
What it is: Postdoctoral researchers staying in Chaoyang with a 3+ year contract may choose:
- One-time RMB 200,000 settlement allowance, OR
- Rent-free talent apartment
Note: These two options are mutually exclusive.
The problem it solves: Academic founders face a gap between research and commercialization. This provides financial runway during the transition.
Measure 6: Startup Office Support (“Qibu” Space)
What it is: Early-stage access to “Qibu” space, providing:
- Free registered address
- Up to two years of shared meeting rooms
- Five shared workstations
The problem it solves: You cannot register a company without an address. You cannot lease an office without a registered company. This breaks the deadlock.
Measure 7: Growth Office Support (“Qifei” Space)
What it is: Dedicated office space for scaling startups with stepped subsidies:
- Year 1: 50% of rent covered
- Year 2: 30% of rent covered
- Year 3: 20% of rent covered
Up to 500 sqm. Combined “Qibu” + “Qifei” support lasts up to three years total.
The problem it solves: As your team grows from 5 to 50 people, office costs escalate. Graduated subsidies match your increasing revenue capacity.
Measure 8: First-Loan Interest Subsidy
What it is: Full interest subsidy on your company’s first loan from a qualified bank.
Exclusions: Personal shareholder loans, real estate loans, non-production fixed-asset investment loans.
The problem it solves: Foreign-founded companies often struggle to access local bank financing. This makes banks more willing to lend and makes your first loan effectively interest-free.
Measure 9: Interest Subsidy for Other Financing
What it is: 30% interest subsidy on IP pledge loans, short-term financing notes, private bonds, and financing leases.
Limits: Up to RMB 100,000/year per enterprise, up to three consecutive years.
The problem it solves: If you have strong IP but limited operating history, traditional loans are hard to get. This makes alternative financing more affordable.
Measure 10: Angel-Financing Reward
What it is: A cash reward equal to 10% of your angel financing amount, capped at RMB 500,000.
How it works in practice: If you raise RMB 3 million from qualified angel investors, the district provides your company with an additional RMB 300,000—non-dilutive capital that does not require giving up more equity. If you raise RMB 5 million or more, you receive the maximum RMB 500,000 reward.
Requirements to qualify:
- The investment funds must have physically arrived in your company’s bank account
- Your company must complete the required registration changes with the relevant authorities
- The investor must meet specific filing or registration requirements set by the district
The problem it solves: Early-stage fundraising is difficult, and every percentage point of equity matters. This reward effectively increases your valuation by 10% from the district’s perspective. On a RMB 5 million round, you receive RMB 500,000 in free capital—money that does not dilute your ownership, does not require repayment, and carries no interest. It is simply a reward for reaching the angel milestone in Chaoyang.
Measure 11: R&D Innovation Support
What it is: 50% of eligible contract amount for rented labs, major instruments, commissioned experiments, etc. Up to RMB 500,000/year.
Requirements: Contracts signed by company (not personally), with clear experimental purpose, content, period, and fee terms.
The problem it solves: Hardware, biotech, and material science founders face high R&D costs with no revenue yet. This cuts those costs in half.
Measure 12: Computing, Model, and Corpus Support
What it is: 50% of eligible project contracts for computing power, models, corpora, training, data annotation, and related R&D services. Up to RMB 500,000/year.
The problem it solves: Computing costs are the second-largest expense for AI founders after talent. This effectively halves your compute bill.
Measure 13: Application-Scenario Support
What it is: Incentives for government and enterprises to open application scenarios.
- Scenario provider: 3% of contract amount, up to RMB 300,000 per scenario
- Matching service provider: Up to RMB 100,000 for connecting 5+ scenarios/year
Annual ceiling: RMB 5 million per category.
The problem it solves: Foreign founders often struggle to find local pilot customers. This creates incentives for local enterprises to offer you testing opportunities.
Measure 14: Matching Rewards and High-Level Talent Connection
What it is:
- Matching rewards: Provincial/ministry-level funding matched by Chaoyang, up to RMB 2 million per project
- High-level talent: Recognition through central/Beijing overseas talent programs includes “Phoenix Plan” service system access
The problem it solves: If you have already secured national funding, this doubles your resources. The “Phoenix Plan” also gives you access to healthcare, education, and other services that make long-term settlement viable.
Measure 15: Talent Hiring, Commercialization, and Lifestyle Support
What it is:
- Talent hiring: RMB 100,000 per qualifying STEM PhD from top-200 universities, after one year of stable employment
- Commercialization: Up to 50% of annual service commission, capped at RMB 200,000 per project
- Lifestyle benefits: Access to cultural and lifestyle perks through the “才朝我来” mini-program
The problem it solves: Hiring global talent is expensive. This offsets the cost. Commercialization support helps you monetize your IP. Lifestyle benefits make Chaoyang a place where your team actually wants to live.
Application Channels
Application routes vary by category:
- Housing support is handled through the “才朝我来” mini-program and “潮安居” platform
- Office support requires qualification through “才朝我来,” with the park or operator submitting subsidy materials
- Financing, R&D, computing, scenario, matching, talent hiring, and technology transfer are submitted through the Chaoyang District Economic Brain system
- Lifestyle and talent perks are accessed through the “才朝我来” mini-program
Strategic Takeaways
Stack the support. A PhD founder can access rent-free housing (M4) + office space (M6/7) + R&D support (M11) + computing support (M12) = potential RMB 1 million+ in annual support.
Plan the sequence. Transitional housing first. Then long-term housing. Then R&D and computing once you have traction. Then financing rewards at milestones.
Build a clear narrative. Policy reviewers evaluate holistically. Connect your technology, market opportunity, team credentials, and Chaoyang impact.
ITEC helps international founders navigate these policies and access the full Chaoyang ecosystem. If you are building in Chaoyang—or planning to—reach out to learn how we can support your application journey.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Final eligibility and application results depend on official review.