Shanghai aims to become the "World Capital of eVTOLs" and establish a national advanced manufacturing cluster for the low-altitude economy

According to the official website of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, on December 30, 2025, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology and others issued the "Several Measures of Shanghai Municipality on Linking the Yangtze River Delta to Accelerate the Construction of Low altitude Economic Advanced Manufacturing Clusters" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures").

The Measures require that by 2028, the core industry scale of Shanghai's low altitude economy should reach about 80 billion yuan, forming a complete industrial chain system for low altitude new aircraft, building an advanced manufacturing cluster for low altitude economy countries, and accelerating the transition to the "world eVTOL capital" with prominent comparative advantages

Enhance the high-end manufacturing capability. Targeting mainstream technology directions, cultivating and attracting 10 leading enterprises in eVTOL, industrial grade unmanned aerial vehicles, new energy general aviation aircraft, etc., forming a mass manufacturing capacity of over 500 new aircraft, and driving the industrial chain to achieve an additional investment of more than 20 billion yuan.

Amplify the advantages of regional synergy. Strengthen the coordination between urban areas and the Yangtze River Delta region, basically establish a national level low altitude new aircraft pilot certification platform, focus on promoting the application of low altitude intelligent logistics, public governance, production operations, etc., and comprehensively build the core competitiveness of the low altitude economy industry in research and development, pilot airworthiness, scenario application, and ecological integration.

Strengthen the function of open innovation. Give full play to the role of Shanghai's low altitude economic reception hall, actively integrate into the global low altitude economic market, and accelerate the application of low altitude equipment overseas. Strengthen policy innovation efforts, actively undertake tasks such as national airworthiness and airspace management, and consolidate the advantages of the low altitude economic industry comprehensive demonstration leading zone.

The main contents of the "Measures" attached to IT Home are as follows:

（1） Building a highland for research, development, and manufacturing of low altitude equipment

1. Build new aircraft assembly and manufacturing capabilities. The urban area will focus on building characteristic industrial parks, increase support for industrial land, talent services, special funds and other resource elements, and provide comprehensive support for the final assembly and manufacturing of low altitude aircraft and key supporting projects that have landed. For complete machine manufacturing projects with high technological innovation and outstanding contributions to industrialization, such as eVTOL and tonnage industrial grade unmanned aerial vehicles, a maximum support of no more than 100 million yuan will be provided. Guide the linkage of low altitude industry funds with social capital to provide equity investment support. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee, Jinshan District, Minhang District, Pudong New Area, Qingpu District)

2. Support key core technology research and development. Encourage enterprises to increase their eVTOL and industrial grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for technology routes such as composite wings, tiltrotors, and ducted wings, as well as research and development efforts in new energy power systems, flight control systems, composite materials, integrated communication, navigation, and monitoring, detection and countermeasures, and display and control air traffic control. Implement industrialization and provide support of up to 50 million yuan. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee, Pudong New Area, Changning District, Yangpu District, Jiading District, Jinshan District, Minhang District, Qingpu District)

3. Accelerate the experimental verification of new technologies. Support the construction of service platforms for testing, flight testing, inspection, and testing, with a maximum support of no more than 20 million yuan. Encourage relevant regions to increase their support for national and municipal pilot platforms and testing users. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Pudong New Area, Jinshan District, Minhang District, Qingpu District)

4. Support airworthiness certification for new aircraft. Intensify support for low altitude economic industry chain enterprises that have obtained Type Certificate (TC) and Production License (PC), and provide one-time rewards and support to new aircraft such as eVTOL and industrial grade unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as key core components such as engines and propellers in urban areas. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, East China Civil Aviation Administration, Lingang New Area Management Committee, Pudong New Area, Minhang District, Jinshan District, Qingpu District)

5. Build a high-level engineering conversion platform. Support leading enterprises, higher education institutions, and research institutes to jointly establish innovative consortia, achievement transformation platform companies, and other new institutions, with a maximum support of 20 million yuan, to carry out collaborative research and development of industry, academia, research, and application, and achieve engineering and industrial applications. Encourage relevant regions to increase their support for high-level engineering transformation platforms. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Changning District, Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

6. Strengthen the gradient cultivation of high growth enterprises. Strengthen cooperation and innovation between low altitude leading enterprises and high growth enterprises, vigorously cultivate high growth enterprise echelons such as potential gazelle enterprises, gazelle enterprises, potential unicorn enterprises, and unicorn enterprises, and provide certain rewards and support. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, relevant districts)

（2） Building an ecological highland for low altitude economic industries

7. Enhance the airworthiness technology capability system. Coordinate with national low altitude aircraft airworthiness certification professional organizations, encourage low altitude industry chain enterprises, relevant institutions, etc. to enhance their technical capabilities in airworthiness compliance verification. Strengthen the foundation of airworthiness capabilities such as flight control, structure, and power systems, encourage the construction of inspection and testing institutions certified by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment, create a "one-stop" airworthiness service platform, cultivate a professional airworthiness talent team, and explore new models for the development of service enterprises. Support cross-border cooperation and innovation among enterprises, and introduce social forces to jointly promote the improvement of airworthiness capabilities. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, East China Civil Aviation Administration, Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee, Changning District, Jinshan District)

8. Accelerate the formulation of standards and specifications. Encourage leading enterprises, research institutes, and social organizations to take the lead in formulating (revising) international standards, national standards, and industry standards, and provide rewards of up to 1 million yuan, 300000 yuan, and 100000 yuan respectively. (Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, Municipal Economic and Information Technology Commission, relevant districts)

9. Increase financial support. Support insurance institutions to innovate low altitude specialty insurance applicable to low altitude aircraft testing and flight testing, commercial applications, and consumption, and promote the clustering of low altitude insurance institutions. Guide banks to increase their support for loans and financial leasing for investment projects in low altitude enterprise production lines. For bank loans and leasing projects, a maximum subsidy of no more than 20 million yuan will be provided. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Municipal Financial Office, Shanghai Financial Regulatory Bureau, Pudong New Area, Changning District, Minhang District, Qingpu District, Jinshan District)

10. Strengthen talent cultivation services. Promote cooperation between enterprises and universities to carry out joint undergraduate, master's, and doctoral training in the field of low altitude engineering and technology, and encourage leading enterprises to selectively cultivate low altitude technical talents such as air traffic control and airworthiness. Support enterprises and universities to introduce high-level talents from home and abroad, support qualified talents to apply for talent programs such as Oriental Talent and Magnolia Talent, and provide policy support for talent services such as research and development funding, housing rental, and living security. Support eligible low altitude economy related industrial chain enterprises to be included in the key institutions for talent introduction in this city. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Municipal Talent Bureau, Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, relevant districts)

（3） Building a collaborative highland of low altitude economy in the Yangtze River Delta

11. Strengthen the interconnection and intercommunication of low altitude facilities. Strengthen cooperation in the construction of low altitude infrastructure in the Yangtze River Delta region, with demand as the driving force, and coordinate the planning of cross provincial low altitude public air routes and facility construction. Make good use of national policy funds and promote the joint construction and sharing of regional low altitude infrastructure. Support the construction of low altitude facilities, air links, air routes, and service networks covering the Yangtze River Delta region. (Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Planning and Resources Bureau, Municipal Transportation Commission, Municipal Economic and Information Technology Commission, Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee, Changning District, Minhang District, Jiading District, Qingpu District, Jinshan District)

12. Promote the application of low altitude equipment scenarios. Actively support the procurement of low altitude new aircraft by operating units, explore low altitude flight routes connecting Hongqiao to the surrounding areas of the Yangtze River Delta, accelerate the expansion of low altitude logistics, agricultural and forestry crop protection, low altitude surveying, emergency rescue and other scenarios, strengthen cross regional cooperation, and jointly cultivate and open up comprehensive scenarios. (Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee, Changning District, Minhang District, Jiading District, Qingpu District, Jinshan District, Pudong New Area, Municipal Economic and Information Commission, Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Transportation Commission, Civil Aviation East China Air Traffic Control Bureau)

13. Deepen innovation cooperation in the low altitude industry. Give full play to the brand advantages of the East China drone base and low altitude economic reception hall, and focus on key areas such as new aircraft research and development, infrastructure construction, and airworthiness technology. Encourage enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta to jointly build key laboratories, industrial colleges, and technology transformation centers with research institutions. Strengthen policy coordination among cities in the Yangtze River Delta to jointly promote the landing and transformation of high-quality achievements. Support the joint organization of high-level professional low altitude economic exhibitions and forums. (Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee, Changning District, Minhang District, Jiading District, Qingpu District, Jinshan District)

（4） Orderly development of low altitude economic scenario applications

14. Scientific layout of low altitude infrastructure. Develop and release a plan for the construction of low altitude infrastructure. Strengthen the guarantee of land resources, improve financial support, and enhance government funding for the construction of non-profit low altitude infrastructure projects such as safety protection. Gradually carry out the construction of low altitude infrastructure as needed, support the construction of large-scale specialized takeoff and landing sites, low altitude intelligent networking systems and other comprehensive infrastructure that meet the needs of new aircraft in a graded and classified manner, and encourage social capital to participate together. Support the first installation and use of new technology equipment such as communication, surveillance, navigation, and meteorology in the field of low altitude infrastructure construction, with a maximum support of no more than 20 million yuan. (Municipal Development and Reform Commission, Municipal Planning and Resources Bureau, Municipal Economic and Information Technology Commission, Municipal Transportation Commission, relevant districts)

15. Safely develop low altitude transportation. Focusing on specialized low altitude intelligent logistics such as cross sea logistics and urban distribution, fully leveraging the efficiency advantages of low altitude transportation, and promoting the promotion and application of unmanned aerial vehicle routes. Promote the demonstration route of low altitude new aircraft in an orderly manner while ensuring safety. Encourage relevant regions to develop low altitude transportation according to local conditions and increase support and guarantee efforts. (Jinshan District, Yangpu District, Qingpu District, Pudong New Area, Hongqiao International Central Business District Management Committee, Lingang New Area Management Committee, Municipal Economic and Information Technology Commission, Municipal Transportation Commission)

16. Promote the application of public governance. In response to the governance needs of super large cities, we will promote the application of low altitude aircraft in urban management, traffic patrols, river patrols, emergency rescue, patient transportation and urgent drug distribution, environmental monitoring, large-scale event monitoring and other scenarios according to local conditions. Encourage industry regulatory authorities to promote the opening up of their respective fields, explore innovative regulatory systems, and accelerate the large-scale implementation of new technologies and products.