Jonathan Tey: the witness of Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City's innovation development

2019-Jun-6       Source: Newsgd.com

When Singaporean Jonathan Tey arrived at the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (SSGKC) in 2013, the project was just in its opening phase. The area was still practically wasteland, with a few vi

When Singaporean Jonathan Tey arrived at the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (SSGKC) in 2013, the project was just in its opening phase. The area was still practically wasteland, with a few villages and agriculture in the hills, and an industrial economy that was relatively backward.

Over the past six years of development, Tey has seen the SSGKC spring to life. In his opinion, "a world-class, international industrial new city has just begun to take shape".Today's SSGKC is not only full of Lingnan architecture, but also features many Singaporean elements such as the 'Rain Corridor' and the mini 'Solar Super Tree'.

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Jonathan Tey in the interview. [Photo by Li Jiangrui]

Jonathan serves as the chief of Head of human resources and administration dept for the China-Singapore Knowledge City Investment and Development Co., Ltd. and is mainly responsible for recruiting and retaining talent within the scope of the joint venture company. To attract and retain talent, policy and supporting environment are the key factors.

Huangpu District, where the SSGKC is located, is a perfect example, being the first to issue the "Meiyu 10" talent policy. For new or newly trained outstanding talent the maximum potential grant is a staggering $5 million. A residence permit of up to five years will also be granted to recognised high-level overseas talent.

As Jonathan sees it, the SSGKC from the basic food, clothing, travel, to innovation development platforms, has spared no effort to create an environment suitably matched to the high-end industry and talent it seeks to attract. Assistance with a apartments, children's education supporting, transportation, personnel training systems, production, education and research platforms are all crucial.

Thanks to the highly developed mobile payment and e-commerce economy, living in Guangdong is very convenient. Jonathan shared how now he only needs to take his smartphone when he leaves the house, he went on to admit, "Having lived in Guangdong for a long time, it’s hard to adapt back to life in Singapore."

Jonathan also expressed his view that "Guangdong's innovative spirit and strong economic base are very attractive. Of course, it also has its own local culture, which makes many high-end talent feel better integrated," he added.

SSGKC is presently working on their Master Development Plan for 2019-2035, and are aiming for over half a million creative individuals to relocate in the region.

‘The Pearl of the GBA’

The overall plan of the SSGKC. [Photo provided to newsgd.com]

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Greater Bay Area is one of the most open and economically active regions in China, and has an important strategic position in the overall development of the country.

To promote the development of the GBA, the SSGKC will be one of the major carriers of innovation. The SSGKC, which is being positioned as the "Pearl at the tip of the bay", is currently speeding up infrastructure construction. From the SSGKC it now takes only ten minutes to reach Guangzhou’s Baiyun Airport, a major international aviation hub.

According to Tey, China is now undergoing a rapid stage of development, unlike Singapore, where the pace of development has levelled off. In China there are opportunities and challenges everywhere, especially evident in the booming development of new and high-tech industries. It is this which has attracted and will continue to attract many foreigners, including Singaporeans, to China to start up innovative businesses. SSGKC is a platform to display their talent.

As a key component of the Technology Innovation Corridor, the SSGKC provides a strategic fulcrum for Singaporean enterprises to enter the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Bay Area. He believes that in the near future, the SSGKC will be known as a "World Knowledge City", a prototype for a modern and new type of city that is set up perfectly for life and work.

 

Reported by Simon, Will

Edited by Wing Zhang

Video by Li Jiangrui


中新广州知识城的创造发展见证:郑伯树

2013年,新加坡人郑伯树进入中新广州知识城投资开发有限公司任职时,知识城内的项目刚刚开始建设没多久,几乎是一片荒地。丘陵中分布着一些村庄和基塘农业,产业经济较为落后,基础配套也较为缺乏。

经过9年的建设,知识城各大项目如雨后春笋般出现与发展、生活配套逐步完善,工作与生活越来越方便。今天的知识城不仅充满着岭南建筑特色,也有随处可见诸如‘风雨连廊’、迷你‘超级树’等新加坡元素。

.

郑伯树先生在接受采访中。【图/李江锐】

作为参与开发建设的一员,郑伯树在此工作的六年间,见证了知识城的飞速发展。在他看来,“一座世界级、国际化产业新城已初现雏形”。

郑伯树长期担任中新广州知识城投资开发有限公司的人事行政负责人,主要负责合资公司的人才招募和留用工作。据了解,他们主要通过全球公开招募的方式来引进国际化人才。而要吸引和留住人才,良好的人才政策和配套环境是关键因素。

在他看来,知识城从基础的衣食住行,到人才的创新发展平台,一直不遗余力打造与高端产业和高端人才匹配的配套环境,为高端人才的集聚提供了有力保障。相关配套具体包括人才公寓、子女教育配套、交通配套、人才培训体系、产学研平台等。

例如,知识城所在的黄埔区率先发布了“美玉 10 条”的人才政策。其中提到了对该区新引进或新培养的杰出人才,经认定将最高给予安家费500万元;对经认定的外籍高层次人才,给予最高5年的居留许可。

而得益于发达的移动支付和电商经济,广东的日常生活消费十分方便。对郑伯树而言,如今他出去搭乘地铁等交通工具时,只需要带手机就行了。他也坦承,“在广东生活久了,回到新加坡反而不适应。”

此外,“广东的创新精神和雄厚的经济基础是很吸引人的,当然还有其包容的地方文化,令很多高端人才感到比较有归属感,”郑伯树补充说到。

据了解,知识城正在编制《中新广州知识城总体发展规划(2019-2035 年)》,未来有约60万创新人才集聚这里工作和生活。

“湾顶明珠”助力粤港澳大湾区建设

知识城最新规划的178平方公里的总体效果图

粤港澳大湾区是我国开放程度最高、经济活力最强的区域之一,在国家发展大局中具有重要战略地位。

推进粤港澳大湾区建设,中新广州知识城将是重大创新载体之一。被定位为“湾顶明珠”的知识城目前正加速基础设施的建设。届时,从广州知识城可便利通达大湾区各个城市群和世界各地。从知识城出发,到达白云机场只需十多分钟,去深圳机场也是二十多分钟。

在郑伯树看来,与新加坡进入稳步发展期不同,中国目前正处在高速发展阶段,处处都是机遇与挑战,尤其是新兴高新科技产业的蓬勃发展,更是吸引了许多包括新加坡人在内的外国人到中国创新创业。中新广州知识城便是一个施展才华的平台。

郑伯树表示,作为广深港澳科技创新走廊核心创新平台的知识城,被纳入粤港澳大湾区发展规划,也为新加坡企业进入粤港澳大湾区发展提供了战略支点。他相信在不久的将来,知识城将成为“世界知识城”、“湾区创新源”、“国际人才港”、“幸福生态区”,成为一座宜居宜业的现代化新型城市。

按照知识城的发展规划,将聚焦汇聚世界知识型领军人才,引进和培育知识密集型产业,实现人与自然和谐共生的高质量发展,到2035 年全面建成具有全球影响力的国家知识中心。

 

【记者】 张莹 魏申 曾莉娟 (新加坡《联合早报》)

【视频】 李江锐

 

Editor: Will

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