Conference casts spotlight on innovation-driven Guiyang

Annual meeting aims to create platform to pair startups with local governments

With the annual conference of the Western Returned Scholars Association and the Chinese Overseas-Educated Scholars Association starting in Guiyang on Tuesday, the capital of Guizhou province is once again garnering attention as a hub of young talent.

The conference brings together participants from around the world, including senior officials, entrepreneurs, overseas-educated scholars who have returned to China and experts, to discuss youth entrepreneurship in a multitude of fields, most notably in the aviation, big data and biopharmaceutical industries.

During the opening ceremony, Barry Marshall, a Nobel Prize laureate in medicine and a foreign academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Wang Shi, founder and chairman of Vanke, one of China's largest real estate enterprises, will deliver keynote speeches, sharing their experiences and insight regarding China's innovation strategies.

With innovation becoming China's new means to develop socially and economically, many Western-educated professionals are returning to the nation to start their careers.

The annual conference aims to build a platform allowing those who want to start their own business team up with local governments and agencies.

Founded in 1913, the Western Returned Scholars Association is composed of Chinese who have returned to China after studying abroad. It is the oldest and largest community for overseas returnees and it established the annual conference in China in 2011 to establish a platform for its members and local governments to exchange ideas and build possible paths of cooperation.

Guiyang, a city that is active in its protection of the environment, is known for its abundance of natural resources. In recent years, the city has strived to attract talented personnel to boost its economic development.

"We are at a transformation and upgrading 'stage' in terms of social and economic development and an increase in professionals is playing an important role in this," said Lan Yitong, a member of the CPC Guiyang standing committee and director of Guiyang's publicity department, in late July.

The Western Returned Scholars and the Chinese Overseas-Educated Scholars Association have a long history of connecting with highly educated professionals, which will benefit Guiyang, Lan said.

Renowned for its cultural diversity and pristine natural beauty, Guizhou is trying to highlight characteristics unique to the province as it pursues social and economic development under the concept of eco-civilization.

As the capital, sustainable development is the key to the city's future.

As host city of the annual Eco-Forum Global, the only major international conference in China that discusses the development of an ecological civilization, Guiyang has become a focal point for global experts to share their insights and explore major topics concerning the global green economy.

That spotlight on Guiyang - as well as its lower living costs and picturesque environment - has made the city a top choice in Southwest China for startups over the years.

New niche

"Entering the Internet Plus age, distance is no longer a limit for entrepreneurs," said Chen Gang, Party chief of Guiyang.

Guizhou's annual average temperature of 15 C, coupled with its good air quality, have allowed companies' big data and cloud computing servers to use less energy, officials have said.

Since 2013, Guiyang has pushed for the development of big data as one of its economic pillars.

It is the first province to appoint the innovative sector as a building block of its economy.

With the cooperation of firms in Zhongguancun, labeled by many Chinese as the Silicon Valley of Beijing, many technological companies have recognized the climatic advantages of the city, and have begun expanding their businesses in Guizhou in partnership with the local government.

In order to encourage more creative and innovative companies to establish divisions in Guiyang, the city has issued more than 30 supportive government policies since January, some of which provide both funds and offices for startups.

"People can count on Guiyang as their dream home and any qualified creative idea can be realized and will get sponsored by venture capital or angel capital," Chen said.

Liu Yuhai, Guiyang's vice-mayor, said that for any qualified big-data related startup with at least one leader and three core members, the government will provide up to 5 million yuan ($805,350) as startup capital.

In addition, the government will establish a cooperation platform between major universities in the city and enterprises to help graduate students find internships.

To attract more overseas returnees and high-end professionals, Guiyang implemented a "talent green card" system in 2010.

A card holder who fits the requirements is eligible for a housing subsidy, free healthcare services and schooling for children.

In Guiyang's high-tech district, 700 apartments were recently built to provide housing for startups.

"With implementation of the nation's innovation-driven development strategy, industries that are involved in innovative sectors will attract more overseas returnees," said Li Zhe, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Guizhou.

Contact the writers at yangjun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/28/2015 page24)