Haidian district in Beijing introduced a "one-plus-two" policy package Wednesday to support "AI plus culture" integration, with a focus on sectors such as esports and short-form dramas.

The measures aim to create an integrated culture-technology ecosystem, offering grants of up to 30 million yuan ($4.21 million) for eligible AI innovation projects.

As a leading innovation hub, Haidian is home to more than 1,900 AI enterprises and 116 registered large AI models, accounting for nearly 70% of Beijing's total. In 2024, the district's cultural enterprises above designated size generated about 1.31 trillion yuan in revenue, accounting for 57.1% of the citywide total.

The policy framework encompasses one overarching document and two sector-specific measures covering four key areas. These include building a globally competitive "AI plus culture" industrial cluster with rewards of up to 40 million yuan, and offering up to 10 million yuan for leading companies and 5 million yuan for major events. The policy also includes provisions for a one-stop service mechanism for businesses.

The package establishes an "AI plus culture" co-creation initiative to promote the development of vertical large models and collaborative innovation consortia. It also supports the deep integration of AI within the video game industry, offering a maximum reward of 10 million yuan for the construction of technology innovation laboratories.

Simultaneously, the package encourages enterprises to leverage Beijing's local cultural resources to create high-quality content and original intellectual property, with related achievements eligible for rewards of up to 20 million yuan.

Industry representatives said the measures will accelerate AI-powered cultural production while lowering costs and improving efficiency.