Range of policies and reform at high-tech powerhouse

 

In the past three years, Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park has made measurable progress in efforts to become a special zone for talent.

 

In 2011, 15 agencies including the organization department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and Beijing city government jointly issued a document with support plans to strengthen Zhongguancun's role as a hub for creative talent in China.

 

The document, which included 13 special policies, aims to guide Zhongguancun's transformation into a nationlevel special zone "with rich intellectual resources, truly innovative mechanism, vigorous technological innovation and fast-growing emerging industries".

 

All 13 policies are having an effect.

 

The policy related to the overall arrangement of major projects, which aims to stimulate the transfer of innovative results in big data, environmental protection and other sectors, has helped with 715 major projects. The Beijing government has provided a 39.27 billion yuan ($6.4 billion) for the effort.

 

Since 2013, all scientific research programs in the area are included as pilot reform projects, and some 90 million yuan is provided as secondary funding as incentives for research program participants.

 

In recent years, Zhongguancun has paid close attention to attracting high-level talent globally.

 

Relying on overseas liaison organizations in the Silicon Valley, London, Toronto and other regions, the park has attracted 874 professionals selected by China's Recruitment Program of Global Experts and 424 members included in Beijing's Overseas Talents Program.

 

Today Zhongguancun has over 70 percent of Beijing's high-level overseas talent, statistics show.

 

Currently, the special zone has about 18,000 professionals returned from overseas and nearly 9,000 foreign experts.

 

With more than 6,000 technological enterprises, 260 foreign-invested research institutions and over 2,000 foreign corporations by 2013, the special zone has become a "soft port" in the international talent market.

 

According to the administrative committee, high-level talent has greatly enhanced the vitality for innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.