The General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("MIIT") has recently issued the Circular on Carrying out Work on the Demonstration of Pilot Cyber Security Technology Application in 2020 (the "Circular").
According to the Circular, the key directions for demonstration purposes cover three categories of fields including new information infrastructure security, network security public services, and "high-grade, high-precision and advanced" technological innovation platforms for network security. Regarding applicants, the Circular clarifies that entities which have been registered in China with the status of an independent legal person, such as enterprises and public institutions in public communication and information services, energy, transportation, water conservancy, finance, medical treatment, intelligent manufacturing, aerospace, e-government and some other industries and fields, as well as enterprises and public institutions that provide network security technology, products and services for them, may apply for identification of demonstration projects in the first and second categories of fields; while operation and management institutions in technological innovation or pilot demonstration zones may apply for identification of demonstration projects in the third category of fields. The Circular underscores that the selection will be made by taking into account innovation, advancement, practicality, and replicability of the projects. In principle, an applicant may apply for two projects at most independently or jointly with other applicants. The Circular also makes arrangements for relevant work procedures.