Shanghai releases 3-year cloud computing plan

In the next three years, Shanghai will strive to make itself an "Asia-Pacific Cloud Computing Center" and cultivate 10 cloud computing enterprises with annual incomes of more than 100 million yuan, according to the "2010-2012 Shanghai Plan for Promoting the Cloud Computing Industry" officially released by the Shanghai municipal government on Aug. 17.

Cloud computing refers to the use of shared resources across different locations over the Internet. On the same day, the "Shanghai Cloud Computing Industry Base" was officially launched in the Shanghai Shibei High-Tech Park.

Shao Zhiqing, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, said that Shanghai plans to spend three years to cultivate 10 influential cloud computing technology and service enterprises with annual incomes of more than 100 million yuan, and establish 10 cloud computing demonstration platforms to serve in fields such as urban management, industry development, e-government and small and medium-sized enterprise services.

It will also promote 100 software and information service enterprises to make a transition to cloud computing service and bring 100 billion yuan of sales revenue for the information service industry. It will cultivate and introduce 1,000 high-end skilled workers for the cloud computing industry.

Shanghai will focus on the development of six major projects, including launching 12 key projects with more than 3 billion yuan of investments for the first phase of cultivating leading enterprises in the cloud computing industry; establishing the "Cloud Investment Fund" with 300 million yuan of investments for the first phase jointly initiated by the municipal venture capital funds, professional venture capital funds and district-level venture capital funds; and establishing the "Cloud Computing Industry Development Union" to study and formulate related technical standards of the cloud computing industry.

According to sources, relevant departments will also formulate supporting policies, such as comprehensive taxation and subsidy policies to support the development of the cloud computing industry.

By People's Daily Online