In recent years, the city of Binzhou in China's Shandong province has sought to cultivate a fertile environment for innovation by fostering a sci-tech ecosystem characterized by "government leadership, enterprise initiative, institutional proactivity, talent-driven efforts and market orientation".

Authorities in Binzhou have pursued the integration of industrial and innovation chains, leveraging a high-quality sci-tech ecosystem to shape new development advantages. Against this backdrop, the Binzhou branch of Qilu Bank has worked towards the innovation of its service models and optimized business processes, channeling targeted financial resources into the sci-tech innovation sector to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) achieve leapfrog development from "small and refined" to "large and strong".

To enhance the precision and convenience of financial services for sci-tech enterprises, Qilu Bank's local branch has introduced a "Sci-Tech Finance Marketing Toolkit". This toolkit systematically integrates a database of sci-tech enterprises, a list of strategic emerging industries, various sci-tech innovation platforms and specialized credit policies, creating an integrated service model of "list-based + product package".

According to the bank, this effectively breaks down financing information barriers and provides tailored, one-stop financial support for technology enterprises at different development stages and in various industries. Shandong Huierjia Biological Co is one such high-quality sci-tech SME that the bank identified and supported through this innovative model.

The enterprise integrates R&D, production, sales and technical services for high-end energy feed. As a specialized producer of soybean phospholipids and emulsified oil powder series products for the Chinese market, Shandong Huierjia provides high-end energy feed products to more than 300 large domestic feed enterprises, generating significant economic benefits.

To further support the growth of high-quality sci-tech enterprises, Qilu Bank in Binzhou formed a dedicated team of relationship managers to proactively engage with Shandong Huierjia. They gained an in-depth understanding of its operations, financing needs and market prospects, tailoring a comprehensive financial service solution that includes account opening, settlement and cash management.

The bank also matched the company with its "S&T Easy Loan" product, which features flexible credit limits, fast approval and preferential pricing, effectively addressing the challenges of "difficult, slow and expensive financing" for sci-tech enterprises.

The bank's head office, branch and sub-branch worked together on this project, opening a "green channel" for approval and securing a special preferential interest rate for the enterprise. This initiative is expected to reduce Shandong Huierjia's annual financing costs by approximately 60,000 yuan ($8,500) thanks to a "quick response, low cost and superior service" approach.

As of the end of June 2025, Qilu Bank's branch in Binzhou had provided comprehensive financial services to 163 sci-tech enterprises, including five national-level "little giant" enterprises specializing in niche sectors and 10 provincial-or-higher-level manufacturing champion enterprises.

According to Qilu Bank, it intends to pursue the construction of its sci-tech financial service system, offering solid financial support for more SMEs to scale new heights and strengthen their capabilities, thereby contributing to Binzhou's goal of building a new regional hub for sci-tech innovation industries.