Interpretation of the Xishan Talent Plan (Ver 3.0) Policy – Xishan District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province

"Xishan Talent Plan" (Ver 3.0) aims to revolve around the overall layout of Xishan District's promotion of high-quality  and comprehensive development. It focuses on the  direction  of  the  "Four  New   Industries   and  Four  Advantageous   Industries" industrial clusters. It targets the introduction of talents in short supply in emerging industries such as integrated circuits, biomedicine and medical devices, new materials and new energy, and artificial intelligence, as well as advantageous industries such as electric vehicles, electronic information, high-end equipment, and high-end textile and garment. The Plan vigorously introduces a number of leading industrial talent teams and  leading  scientific  and  technological  talents  from  home  and  abroad  who  are "high-level, sophisticated, and urgently needed" and who can  solve  "stranglehold" technology challenges to innovate and start businesses in the district.
This article will provide an in-depth interpretation of the "Xishan Talent Plan" from multiple dimensions, including the classification of talent project applications, talent recognition, evaluation, and incentive mechanism reforms. It aims to assist talented individuals to fully understand the Xishan’s talent policies, seize opportunities, and promote the common development of both the individuals and the region.

I.  Gathering Leading Industrial Talents · Building a Talent Support System

Establishing a Talent Innovation Consortium
Focusing   on   the   general   requirement   of   achieving   high-level    scientific   and technological self-reliance and self-improvement, introduce talent teams from around the world capable of making strategic contributions and significant achievements in tackling key core technologies for the clustered development of Xishan's "Four New Industries and Four Advantageous Industries."
l Open Bidding for Selecting the Best Candidates
A project release  committee,  composed  of the  District  Development  and  Reform Commission,  the  Science  and  Technology  Bureau,  the  Industry  and  Information Technology Bureau, and the Commerce Bureau, will, in conjunction with the district's industrial development plan and positioning, periodically release a  "list"  of major strategic  "stranglehold"  technology  collaborative  tackling  project  demands  for  the entire  district.  There  will  be   no  requirements  for  the  educational  background, professional titles, honorary titles, or seniority of the team leaders applying for these projects. An  "evaluation upon  application"  model will be used  for review, with a "case-by-case" approach offering comprehensive project funding of up to 100 million yuan.

Encourage leading enterprises and enterprises leading the industrial chain within the district to vigorously introduce talent teams for tackling core technologies related to "stranglehold" issues. They may form their own consortia to carry out collaborative project tackling. Upon review, matching comprehensive project funding of up to ¥30 million will be provided based on a 1:1 ratio of the actual investment by the talent innovation consortium. A system of full responsibility for the project commander of the talent innovation consortium will be implemented.

Gathering Leading Industrial Talent Teams
Focus precisely on the direction of the "Four New Industries and Four Advantageous Industries" industrial clusters and vigorously introduce a number of leading industrial talent teams from home and abroad who are "high-level, sophisticated, and urgently needed" and who solve "stranglehold" technology challenges.
l Entrepreneurship Teams
Based on the leader's caliber, preliminary project review, on-site inspection, roadshow evaluation  results,  project  input  and  outcomes,  and  social  capital  investment, entrepreneurship teams will receive project funding ranging from ¥2 million to ¥5 million, divided into four tiers.
For three  years,  the  sub-district  (town)  where  the  project  is  located  will  provide annual office space rental subsidies of up to ¥60,000, ¥70,000, ¥80,000, or ¥100,000 according  to  the  tier,  not  exceeding  the  actual  rental  expenses  for  the  project's premises in that year.
l Innovation Teams
For  innovation  teams  introduced  by  enterprises  in  the  district  to  carry  out  core technology R&D and achieve major innovations, project funding will be provided in four tiers: ¥1 million, ¥1.2 million, ¥1.5 million, and ¥2 million respectively.
10% of the project funding must be used to subsidize team members and cannot be offset against their salaries and benefits.

Introducing Leading Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talents
Focus  on  supporting  high-level   "high-level,  sophisticated,  and  urgently  needed" talents  and  teams  from  home  and  abroad  to  innovate  and  start  businesses  in  our district.
Priority  support  will  be  given  to  full-time  returnees  who  have  obtained  degrees overseas, possess leading technologies, and to young talents under 35.
l Leading Entrepreneurship Talents
Project funding will be provided in four tiers: ¥600,000, ¥800,000, ¥1 million, and ¥1.5 million respectively.
For three  years,  the  sub-district  (town)  where  the  project  is  located  will  provide annual office space rental subsidies of up to ¥10,000, ¥20,000, ¥30,000, or ¥50,000 according  to  the  tier,  not  exceeding  the  actual  rental  expenses  for  the  project's premises in that year.

l Leading Innovation Talents
Project funding will be provided in four tiers: ¥300,000, ¥400,000, ¥500,000, and ¥600,000 respectively. For leading innovation talents from universities and research institutes,  project  funding  will  be  provided  in  two  tiers:  ¥100,000  and  ¥150,000 respectively.
10% of the project funding must be used to subsidize the talent themselves and cannot be offset against their salaries and benefits.

Integrating and Upgrading the "Returning Swallow Plan"
Comprehensively expand the supported objects, definition scope, and policy measures of the  "Returning  Swallow  Plan".  Include  native  talents,  overseas  talents,  young talents, and skilled talents under the "Returning Swallow Plan" for unified support and management.
l Introduction of Local Talents
Provide housing subsidies for high-level native talents residing outside the district who return home to innovate or start businesses.  Special support will be given to graduates of Wuxi University who  choose to work and start businesses in Xishan, providing living subsidies such as housing resettlement subsidies and rental subsidies. Research the establishment of special scholarships and grants, form a practice base alliance, and provide internship subsidies for Xishan-local college students studying elsewhere.
Establish  and  improve  the  "Local  Talent  Pool,"  encourage  natives  to  recommend talents for their hometown, strengthen ties with local talents through activities such as hometown  talent  networking  sessions  and  visits,  and  guide  various  innovative resources to concentrate in Xishan.
l Introduction of Overseas Talents
Innovation and entrepreneurship talents returning directly to our district from abroad (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) who participate in district-level project reviews and are selected for settlement will receive a 30% increase in project funding. After being recognized at the  district level,  if they participate  in the contribution points evaluation as required, they can enjoy a 10% increase in the amount of talent contribution subsidy funds.
l Introduction of Young Talents
Focus  on  introducing   and  cultivating  a  group  of  young  talents  under   35  with bachelor's or master's degrees and under 40 with doctoral degrees. For enterprises in the district that employ such young talents full-time, a one-time reward of ¥5,000 per master's degree holder and ¥10,000 per doctoral degree holder will be given directly to the individual.
For recent graduates coming to various employing units in our district for internships or job interviews, provide free accommodation at the Young Talent Hostel for up to 14 days.
For  those  who  officially  settle  and  work  in  our  district,  provide  rental,  housing purchase, and one-time living subsidies according to standards.
Encourage various district departments and sub-districts (towns) to organize activities and exhibitions more aligned with the positioning of young talents in the new era, such  as  those  featuring  traditional  Chinese  style,  national  trends,  animation,  and e-sports.  After  filing  with  the  District  Talent  Office,  activity  subsidies  of  up  to ¥200,000 may be provided.

II.  Reforming the Talent Development System  · Creating Distinctive Incentive and Subsidy Policies

Reform of the Talent "Recognition" Mechanism
Formulate  and  implement  a  district-level  direct  recognition  system  for  high-level talents. For various talents who come to innovate or start businesses in enterprises and institutions in our district from outside Wuxi City after April  1,  2023,  implement tiered and categorized direct talent recognition, creating a new-era talent introduction and  cultivation  mechanism  with  recognition  as  the  mainstay  and  review  as  a supplement.
l Direct Recognition Without Review
Fully integrate into and align with major national strategies. Key talents from the Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and leading domestic  first-tier  cities  who  are  recruited  full-time  will  be  directly  recognized without review.
l Talent Recognition via Limited-Quota Recommendation
Further  support  key   employing  units   in  our  district,  such  as  Wuxi  University, specialized  and  sophisticated  SMEs  that  produce  new  and  unique  products,  and “quasi-unicorn” enterprises, in their efforts to recruit full-time high-level talents from home and abroad, including technical R&D leaders from well-known international enterprises and senior personnel from prestigious universities and research institutes. Conduct  pilot  programs  for  authorized  quota-based  recommendation  for  talent recognition.
l Fast-Track for Major Project Talents
Implement a fast-track mechanism for major project talents. Upon recommendation by  the  project  party   and  review  by   competent  authorities  such  as  the  District Commerce Bureau and Science and Technology Bureau, a "green channel" for talent recognition  can  be  opened  for  some  core  team  members  of  major   industrial investment projects exceeding ¥5 billion and major science and technology innovation platform projects exceeding ¥500 million.

Reform of the Talent "Evaluation" Mechanism
Comprehensively  abandon  the  orientation  of  "only  papers,  only  professional titles, only degrees, only awards" in talent evaluation. Establish a scientific talent evaluation system oriented towards talents' actual contribution to the locality. Set up term management and exit mechanisms. Appropriately increase the weight of direct evaluation by employers, guiding talents to focus wholeheartedly on entrepreneurship and innovation.
l Talent Contribution Points Evaluation
Establish  a  scientific  talent  evaluation  system  oriented  towards  talents'  actual contribution to the locality, emphasizing originality, demand orientation, and market orientation. Focus on the reform direction of long-term evaluation. Establish a talent contribution points mechanism based primarily on various indicators within six years of the talent project's settlement, including sales, tax payment, R&D investment, job creation, social benefits, projects led, patents/software copyrights, and selection for higher-level talent plans.  Conduct  contribution  points  evaluation  upon  the  talent's application, serving as the fundamental basis for talent service guarantees and reward subsidies.
For entrepreneurial talents, contribution points are calculated based on indicators such as sales revenue, tax payment, and talents introduced by the enterprise.
For innovative talents, contribution points are calculated based on indicators such as individual income tax, published papers, and patents/works.

Reform of the Talent "Incentive" Mechanism
Implement more flexible talent incentive measures. Gradually establish an incentive and  subsidy  system  centered  on  the  talents  themselves.  Encourage  employers  to provide  other  more  targeted  incentives  based  on  the  actual  needs  of  talents. Comprehensively optimize the systems and mechanisms for cultivating, utilizing, and retaining talents.
l Talent Contribution Rewards and Subsidies
Comprehensively cancel single-item financial subsidies with designated uses, such as those  for  housing  purchases,  car  purchases,  site  rental,  and  sales  rewards.  Based primarily on the results of the talent contribution points evaluation, and according to the  talent's  category  and  attributes,  provide  contribution  subsidies  for  the  talent themselves, up to two times per evaluation cycle, with a maximum of ¥5 million per time. All contribution reward subsidy funds are to be independently allocated by the talent themselves.
Entrepreneurial talents can independently allocate up to ¥5 million per reward.
Innovative talents can independently allocate up to ¥1 million per reward.

Reform of the "Selection and Review" Mechanism

l Retention of Project Eligibility

Within two years from the date of the project approval notice, eligibility and defense scores for direct selection as "Xishan Talent Plan" leading entrepreneurship talents can be retained. If an approved project, within the eligibility retention period, meets all  the  basic  and  categorical  conditions  for  leading  entrepreneurship  talents  and officially establishes operations in our district for entrepreneurship, the funding tier can be confirmed based on the project registration status.
l Evaluation Through Competition
Regularly hold the "Wisdom Gathering in Xishan" high-level talent innovation and entrepreneurship competitions at home and abroad. For entrepreneurial projects that win awards in district-level or higher entrepreneurship competitions filed with the District  Talent   Office,   such   as   the   "Taihu   Cup   International   Innovation   and Entrepreneurship Competition" and "Entrepreneurship Jiangsu," eligible projects can be directly selected as leading scientific and technological entrepreneurship talents, with funding tiers directly corresponding to award levels.
l Direct Recommendation for Specialized Talents
Pilot a direct recommendation system for special talents. Form a special talent direct recommendation expert committee as needed. After review and approval at a joint meeting of the District Talent Work Leading Group Office, the recommendation will be publicly confirmed. The direct recommendation expert committee can, according to relevant procedures, recommend  special  talents  with  excellent  moral  character, superb  skills,  and  outstanding  achievements   for  direct   selection  as  district-level leading innovation and entrepreneurship talents.

Follow-up Rewards and Subsidies for Talent Work

l Employer Recommendations
For  employers  who  recommend  outstanding  talents  to  apply  for  higher-level  key talent project plans, provide follow-up rewards and subsidies according to a certain percentage. Give a maximum reward of ¥1 million for a single team project and a maximum reward of ¥500,000 for a single individual talent project.
l District-Wide Talent Introduction Rewards and Subsidies
Encourage  all  sub-districts  (towns)  in  the  district  to  actively  carry  out  talent introduction initiatives. For talents introduced and recognized at the district level, provide follow-up rewards and subsidies to the sub-districts (towns) based on the number  of talents  introduced  at  each  level  and  the  comprehensive  assessment  of annual talent work, with a maximum annual amount not exceeding ¥2 million.

Source: Guoke Torch Enterprise Incubator Research Center

The English version is for reference only. If there are differences between the English version and the Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.

Chinese Source：https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jCe-L6doLj1WLH1h-c5lLg