China’s cities are rolling out “computing power vouchers” that subsidize up to 80% of AI rental fees for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), aiming to expand access to artificial intelligence resources and increase utilization of data centers.
Shanghai is leading the effort with 600 million yuan ($84 million) in vouchers and an additional 100 million yuan ($14 million) for large language model training. Other regions including Beijing, Henan, Shandong, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Ningbo have introduced similar programs. Chengdu has allocated 100 million yuan for research institutions, while Shandong has committed 30 million yuan with plans for a further 1 billion yuan.
The initiative follows a December 2024 policy on data labeling, designed to reduce research and development costs for smaller companies. “It’s about lowering barriers so smaller firms can prototype faster and gain access to AI resources that were previously priced out of reach,” the policy document said.
The vouchers can be redeemed at local and national data centers to access computing power at below-market prices. The scheme also aligns with China’s “Eastern Data, Western Computing” strategy, which seeks to channel workloads to underused western data hubs, some running at just 20–30% capacity.
While the subsidies could help local governments monetize idle infrastructure, the overall impact remains uncertain as companies face administrative hurdles and logistical challenges in securing access.
Source: DigiTimes