Jiangsu's Taicang attracts global talent, investment through innovation partnership

Photo shows the Taicang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in in Taicang, Jiangsu province. [Photo/IC]

Taicang, a county-level city in East China's Jiangsu province, is attracting more overseas professionals and investment by deepening international innovation cooperation, enhancing services for foreign experts and fostering a business-friendly environment for global companies.

The city hosted the Talent Gathering in Taicang 2026: International Experts Technology Exchange Meeting on July 10, bringing together German experts, researchers, business leaders and government officials to promote technology cooperation and talent exchange.

Oliver G. Schmidt, honorary professor at Fudan University, delivered a keynote speech on micro-robots, while institutes under Germany's Fraunhofer Society showcased cutting-edge technologies in fields including sustainable polymers, intelligent supply chains, laser hybrid manufacturing, structural durability and digital casting. Taicang has signed a cooperation agreement with the Fraunhofer Society to connect local enterprises with more than 70 of its research institutes, accelerating the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies.

Administered by Suzhou, Taicang has long positioned itself as a destination for European manufacturers. Widely known as China's "home of German enterprises", the city is home to more than 60 of Germany's Hidden Champion companies – world-leading firms in highly specialized industrial sectors. The city's close partnership with Germany has fostered advanced manufacturing clusters and created a strong foundation for attracting international talent and investment.

To better support overseas professionals, Taicang launched the Service Center for Expatriates in March 2025, integrating services from 16 government departments into a one-stop platform covering immigration, government services and daily life. The city has also established a German-style dual vocational education system to meet the needs of advanced manufacturing industries.

The city also hosted the Seminar on the Development of Foreign Talents, where government departments and business representatives shared experience in China-Germany cooperation, overseas talent recruitment and services for foreign professionals. The First Taicang Youth Development Conference was held the following day as part of the city's broader efforts to foster an innovation-friendly environment for young talent.

According to local authorities, professionals from German-speaking countries account for nearly 30 percent of foreign employees holding valid work permits in Taicang and more than one-third of the city's Category A-level high-end foreign professionals.

Officials said the city will continue expanding international cooperation in technology, education and industry to attract more global talent and encourage them to invest, innovate and build long-term careers in Taicang.

By Hou Lina

Source：chinadaily.com.cn