Shanghai, one of the most attractive cities in China. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

Shanghai is currently working towards establishing high-caliber talent hubs and fostering a robust innovation ecosystem. As part of these endeavors, the 2023 Pudong International Talent Hub Forum was recently held in the Pudong New Area.

Since 2021, the forum has been an annual event of great significance, facilitating talent exchanges between domestic and international professionals and acquiring a strong international reputation and substantial influence.

During this year's forum, Pudong unveiled the results of the first "Pearl Project" talent selection and announced three initiatives to attract talented individuals.

The "Pearl Project" aims to bring in top-tier international talent at the forefront of science and technology. By 2025, it is hoped that the project will incentivize approximately 2,000 professionals from around the world to support the development of Pudong's key industries.

To incentivize such talent, the project offers 12 benefits, including financial support, project subsidies, entrepreneurship assistance, and social security. Selected individuals will also have the opportunity to receive an annual award of up to 5 million yuan ($740,000), known as the Pearl Peak Talent award.

The first group of over 800 talents, chosen from a pool of more than 3,400 applicants, were recognized as part of the "Pearl Project" during the forum. These individuals, including peak talents, leading talents, elite talents, and engineers, received their certificates at the event.

The implementation of the "Pearl Project" not only provides vital talent support for Pudong's key industries but has also attracted a multitude of high-level professionals and major projects to the area, effectively conveying Pudong's commitment and support for talent development to the global community.

Furthermore, the forum introduced three additional initiatives: the Well-known Overseas Schools Association Cooperation Platform, the Talent Housing Information Service Platform, and the Global Talent Partner Program. These initiatives collectively aim to expedite Pudong's transformation into a "leading international talent development zone" while incentivizing more talented individuals to pursue their aspirations in Pudong.

The Well-known Overseas Schools Association Cooperation Platform leverages the Pudong International Talent Station to establish collaborations with student organizations from renowned universities worldwide. This platform further promotes the slogan "Welcome to Pudong, Get Your Talent Discovered by the World." Initial partners include 22 student organizations from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Cambridge, hailing from nine countries and regions globally.

The Talent Housing Information Service Platform integrates various types of talent apartments, including district-level and high-quality park and sub-district apartments, into a centralized management platform. This integration increases the convenience of talent housing selection and reduces settlement costs. Pudong currently offers more than 90,000 talent rental housing units, catering to the diverse needs of professionals.

The Global Talent Partner Program aims to expand talent recruitment channels and enhance the precision of talent attraction. By involving professional individuals and institutions as talent "scouts," the program seeks to attract more high-level innovative and entrepreneurial talents worldwide through the principle of "attracting talent with talent" and "institutional recommendations."

The Pudong International Talent Hub Forum has emerged as a crucial platform for Pudong New Area to attract talent, promote innovation, and bolster its international influence. This year's forum adopted a new format called "1+4+X," featuring one main forum and four sub-forums. Following the forum’s commencement, a wide array of talent-focused activities with distinct themes, diverse formats, and engaging content were held throughout the area.

With the implementation of the "Pearl Project" and the introduction of various initiatives, Pudong anticipates continued success in attracting exceptional talent from across the globe. This influx of talent will inject new vitality into Pudong's high-quality development, establishing it as a vibrant hub for global talent exchange and innovation.