Core Insights - The article highlights the growth and support for specialized and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ningguo City, with a focus on the recognition of "little giant" enterprises and the implementation of supportive policies to foster their development [1][2]. Group 1: Recognition and Growth of "Little Giants" - Ningguo City has successfully included one new enterprise in the national "little giant" category and has three existing enterprises that passed the re-evaluation, bringing the total to 11 national-level specialized and innovative "little giant" enterprises [1]. - The city accounts for nearly one-fourth of the total 48 national-level "little giant" enterprises in Xuancheng City, demonstrating its leadership in nurturing high-quality SMEs [1]. Group 2: Financial and Policy Support - In 2024, Ningguo City introduced financial incentives for newly recognized provincial and national "little giant" enterprises, with rewards of up to 50,000 yuan for manufacturing champions [2]. - The city is also facilitating access to financing and market expansion for SMEs by integrating quality certifications into the recognition criteria, thereby addressing the financing challenges faced by these enterprises [2]. Group 3: Structured Growth Ecosystem - Ningguo City has established a structured growth ecosystem for SMEs, categorizing 215 enterprises into a pyramid structure from "innovative SMEs" to "manufacturing champions," ensuring a clear growth pathway [3]. - The city has nurtured 115 provincial specialized and innovative SMEs, maintaining the highest number in Xuancheng City, which continuously feeds the "little giant" group with potential candidates [3]. Group 4: Innovation and R&D Investment - The core competitiveness of "little giants" lies in innovation, with Ningguo City promoting a shift from manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing through increased R&D investment [4]. - The city has established one provincial-level characteristic industrial innovation research institute and seven provincial-level enterprise R&D centers, with R&D expenditure reaching 1.57 billion yuan and an intensity of 3.42%, significantly above the provincial average [4]. Group 5: Digital Transformation and Green Innovation - Digital transformation is emphasized as a key driver of innovation, with the city encouraging the adoption of new technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence [4]. - Ningguo City has initiated several digital transformation demonstration projects and has been recognized as a national-level pilot for collaborative innovation in pollution reduction and carbon reduction, highlighting the importance of "green innovation" among local "little giants" [4].