Changzhou Revises Talent Policy with a Focus on Investing in People — Longcheng Talent Plan Further Optimized

A city thrives when its talents thrives. Focusing on accelerating the construction of a talent-strong city in the new era, Changzhou has upgraded and optimized its flagship talent policy -- the "Longcheng Talent Plan." On May 21, Changzhou held a press conference to explain the new policies.

This round of policy revisions adheres to the core philosophy of "investing in people." Guided by the principle of “maintaining overall stability while making targeted adjustments,” and drawing on extensive input from enterprises, universities, research institutes, various talent groups, and the broader community, the revisions optimize the policy framework. They focus closely on key industrial priorities and critical talent needs, channeling resources, services and support across the entire lifecycle of talent -- from attraction and cultivation to growth and long-term development.  

The new policy maintains a market-oriented approach, focusing on precisely empowering their core needs in innovation and entrepreneurship. For top-tier talents capable of enhancing Changzhou's industrial, technological, and innovative influence as well as its urban development competitiveness, comprehensive support will be provided in areas such as innovation, entrepreneurship, living, and housing. Exceptionally outstanding cases will receive dedicated support through "one matter, one policy" and "one person, one policy." Simultaneously, keeping pace with market developments, the new policy optimizes the venture capital (VC) amount filing standards for upgrading "Longcheng Talent Plan" Category C to Categories A or B. By implementing targeted measures for different for different talent tiers, the policy fosters the sustained development and accelerated growth of diverse talent.

The filing standard for venture capital investment amounts required for "Longcheng Talent Plan" Category C entrepreneurial projects to Categories A or B have been optimized: the threshold for Category A has been raised from ¥10 million to ¥30 million, and for Category B from ¥5 million to ¥10 million. Additionally, the maximum non-repayable grant for Category A projects has been increased from ¥3 million to ¥5 million, thereby strengthening support for outstanding entrepreneurial talent and helping talent projects take root and grow.

The new policy deeply embodies the development philosophy of "attracting talent through industry and revitalizing industry through talent," promoting the simultaneous resonance and two-way empowerment of talent cultivation and industrial development. Building on the previously implemented special talent policies for new energy, artificial intelligence, and other sectors, this optimization closely integrates Changzhou's "6+X" future industry layout; it systematically advances specialized talent policies for other key industries to ensure that talent supply precisely matches industrial upgrading needs.

The new policy places greater emphasis on the primary role of enterprises, directing more resources and elements towards them to further stimulate their vitality in attracting and cultivating talent. It innovatively implements the "Huichuang” initiative, strongly supporting enterprises in recruiting high-level talent by providing tiered aggregation rewards and new recruitment incentives. It encourages enterprises to independently cultivate talent, offering special subsidies for talent achieving educational advancement or skill progression, providing comprehensive support for talent growth and development. Furthermore, the policy focuses on key industries, high-demand fields, and critical positions, implementing targeted support measures to accelerate the recruitment of urgently needed talent in key industries. 

For young talents, who are crucial for the city's long-term development, Changzhou will advance the "Changqing Project," deepen initiatives to encourage young talent to settle in the city, and vigorously build "youth-friendly city," thereby comprehensively optimizing the environment for young talent to live and work. The new policy further optimizes the scope and duration of the "Dual Subsidy" program -- focusing primarily on young talent in the fields of technological and industrial innovation. It also explicitly allows talent housing subsidies to be stacked with other housing subsidy policies within the city, effectively reducing the living and housing costs for young talent.

To comprehensively support talent development and ensure the effective implementation of "investing in people," the new policy emphasizes coordinating multiple resources and consolidating development synergy. Authorities will collaborate with relevant departments and financial institutions to improve the "investment, loan, insurance, and guarantee" financial empowerment system, providing financial "liquidity" for talent innovation and entrepreneurship. At the same time, it explicitly aims to build a "single portal" for talent services, construct the Changzhou International Talent Hub, and create an "online and offline" full-coverage, one-stop, comprehensive talent service platform, making talent services more convenient and efficient.

Furthermore, Changzhou is actively building a distinctive "Hua Luogeng" brand for its talent initiatives, continuously enhancing the city’s visibility, reputation, and influence in this area to attract outstanding talent to settle and thrive in Changzhou. Starting this year, Changzhou has launched a series of "Hua Luogeng Cup" innovation and entrepreneurship competitions. These events are precisely aligning with industrial development needs -- with a special emphasis on the artificial intelligence sector. It features an innovative, multi-dimensional framework comprising tour events, qualifying rounds, invitational tournaments, and professional competitions. This comprehensive ecosystem fosters collaboration across different levels and sectors, effectively attaching top-tier innovative talent and high-quality entrepreneurial projects from home and abroad to establish a deep presence in Changzhou.

The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical stage for Changzhou to build a talent-strong city in the new era. Changzhou will focus on its urban positioning as an "internationalized smart manufacturing and innovation hub in the Yangtze River Delta," by being more proactive, more open, and instituting more effective talent policies. The city aims to continuously foster an ecosystem that attracts talent from near and far, leveraging talent initiatives to empower overall development, drive industrial upgrading, activate innovation, and accelerate population aggregation.  By further deepening the integrated development of industry and striving to build a city of aspiration where talents can innovate, start businesses, live, and work in contentment.

Source: Changzhou Municipal People's Government
https://www.changzhou.gov.cn/ns_news/197177966981151