SZ aims for top innovation and talent ecosystems

Shenzhen serves as an ideal testing ground for new technologies, offering abundant application scenarios. The city has launched 200 application scenarios for urban management and AI and organized over 400 exhibitions and fairs, benefiting nearly 70,000 enterprises. These initiatives have enabled Shenzhen’s products and creativity to gain global recognition. In the future, Shenzhen will further assist enterprises in matching them with diverse application scenarios, such as urban cleaning, emergency rescue, and the use of large language models in medicine. The city also encourages manufacturers to adopt AI and robotics in various production scenarios, including research and development, quality testing, assembly, and material handling. These efforts aim to accelerate the transformation of new technologies into high-quality products that can be widely adopted in domestic households. According to Lin Yi, deputy director-general of the Shenzhen Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau, Shenzhen plans to launch more than 100 application scenarios across different fields by 2025. This will help enterprises efficiently research and develop products, improve technologies, and validate product performance.Shenzhen continues to open itself to global resources, deepening cooperation with both domestic and international partners. Fortune 500 companies such as Apple, Intel, Amazon, and Siemens have established research centers in Shenzhen, while Shenzhen-based enterprises have set up more than 100 research centers abroad. In recent years, six international organizations, including the World WLAN Application Alliance and the International SparkLink Wireless Short-Range Communication Alliance, have been established in Shenzhen. Moving forward, Shenzhen will further open its doors and provide enhanced support for companies to access resources from both home and abroad. Financial support for international cooperation projects will increase, with a maximum total of 30 million yuan (US$4.2 million). To encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, the city will sign agreements with nearly 100 companies, organizations that host innovation and entrepreneurship events, universities, and venture capital institutions. These partnerships aim to identify promising projects and provide students and young entrepreneurs with support, including housing and funding, with subsidies of up to 1 million yuan.

A heart-shaped statue at Shenzhen Talent Park, symbolizing the city’s relentless pursuit and thirst for talent.

In terms of attracting talent, Shenzhen is expanding its favorable accommodation measures. Graduates coming to Shenzhen for job opportunities can now apply for a free 15-day stay, an increase from the previous 7-day offer. Data show that in 2023, Shenzhen’s expenditure on research and development (R&D) reached 223.661 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18.9%. This accounts for 6.46% of the city’s GDP, with both the total amount and intensity of R&D investment ranking second among Chinese mega and medium-sized cities. Notably, corporate R&D investment constituted 93.3% of the total expenditure. In 2024, the number of national high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen surpassed 25,000, while the number of national-level specialized and sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprises reached 1,025. The city is home to 7 million professionals across various fields, including over 26,200 high-level talents, 220,000 overseas returnees, and 4.06 million skilled workers.