Xiamen's talent hub expands global reach

The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park was recognized as an exemplary pilot scientific and technological innovation area for international talent at the recently concluded 26th Annual Conference of the National Network of Overseas Students' Pioneer Parks, adding another prestigious national-level accolade to its list of achievements.

The park plans to offer an incubation space of more than 1.2 million square meters, focusing on emerging industries such as semiconductors, biomedicine, new materials and new energy. It will cater to the needs of its occupants by establishing dedicated zones for business incubation, acceleration, industry support and daily life services, creating a comprehensive service system for overseas Chinese, returned Chinese students and foreign entrepreneurs.

During the conference, an international scientific and technological innovation talent collaboration network was also established. This initiative was jointly launched by the China Overseas Scholars Pioneer Park Alliance along with over 20 other organizations, including the Xiamen Torch Development Zone for High Technology Industries in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province. The network aims to foster an innovation ecosystem by facilitating policy dialogues, hosting events, and sharing information and experiences.

High-caliber global talent is one of the key forces driving high-quality development and Chinese modernization. The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park has, over nearly three decades, evolved into a major platform for attracting international talent and integrating with the global innovation network. In the 2024 report on the competitiveness of China's incubators for overseas-educated Chinese, the park ranked first in regional contribution for the third consecutive year, second in attracting international talent, and fourth in overall competitiveness.

Becoming a model

The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park provides fertile ground for talent growth. It has established a BRICS talent base and developed various platforms such as professional incubators and human resources industrial parks, forming an "incubation-conversion-commercialization" system that supports enterprises at every stage of their life cycle. Furthermore, the park leverages events like overseas entrepreneurship competitions to attract outstanding individuals.

The quality of the business environment is best judged by the companies operating within it. In 2022, Wang Jiafu, an expert in polymer materials, chose to base his company at the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park. "This place not only has complete physical infrastructure like public technical service platforms and entrepreneurship stations, but the staff is also very aware of the needs of 'returnee' entrepreneurs, providing practical and efficient services," Wang said.

Having over two decades of overseas work experience, Wang joined a high-tech startup in the park upon his return to China in 2014. "I noticed immediately back then that the park had a vibrant atmosphere full of overseas returnees keen to innovate and start new ventures," he said.

Wang's company, Xiamen Wangwang Technology, focuses on addressing car window fogging by applying a self-developed film material to glass surfaces for a lasting anti-fog effect. Unlike traditional in-car defogging devices, this technology significantly reduces vehicle energy consumption, promoting eco-friendly travel. Wang fondly recalled how the park's staff proactively assisted with policy consultation and finding suitable locations during his company's early days.

For years, the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park has been a magnet for talent from diverse international backgrounds. To date, the park has attracted more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and incubated nearly 800 companies, including six listed ones.

"Our anti-fogging material is currently in the validation stage," Wang explained. "The next step is to solidify partnerships with car manufacturers and gradually extend to the aftermarket," he said. Looking to the future, Wang is brimming with confidence.

Future plans

A representative of the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park said, "We will enhance both our soft and hard infrastructure, attract more high-end international talent to innovate and start businesses here, and convert technological achievements into tangible productivity."

Specifically, the park will implement global talent attraction initiatives, including international entrepreneurship competitions, Xiamen tours for students from prestigious overseas universities and the Xiamen University Torch Entrepreneurship Camp, casting a wide net to invite top talent from around the world.

Meanwhile, the park will set up talent liaison offices in BRICS countries and those involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperate with universities to facilitate exchange and cooperation through salons and roadshows.

The park will also experiment with a "talent enclave" model, which supports offshore research and operations, and encourages international talent to register their businesses in the park while operating globally.

To address financing concerns, the park will utilize self-managed and co-invested funds to create a fund pool of no less than 3 billion yuan ($418 million) to support businesses' financing needs throughout their life cycle.

The park will also push the application of research findings through creating a technology transfer center. The center will provide technology services for vaccine development, medical devices, new materials and other areas to support the utilization of international talent's innovations in Xiamen.

Moreover, the park will offer courses on cross-border commerce to its resident businesses, covering subjects like intellectual property protection and cross-cultural business negotiations, tailored to meet the needs of entrepreneurs.

In the meantime, the park will support its tenants in professional skill evaluation, housing, healthcare, children's education and spouse employment. It will also establish an international community, which will organize events like company open days to enhance communication among the international entrepreneurs.

Guo Wenchen contributed to this story.