Guangdong will implement more open talent policies during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The new policies will provide convenience for foreign talents to come to China for work permits, visas, tax incentives, and attract more high-level talents at home and abroad to start-up businesses in Guangdong, according to Gong Guoping, director general of the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, at a press conference on Wednesday.

(Photo: Southcn.com)

Yesterday (October 13) the Information Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province held a press conference on the 14th Five-Year Plan for Guangdong Science and Technology Innovation.

Gong said that Guangdong will actively adapt to changes in the international and domestic situations, focus on the demand for innovative talents in key areas, and carefully organize major talent projects. According to him, during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have already had close cooperation in technological innovation. “About 150 million RMB of Guangdong’s financial scientific research funds have been allocated to Hong Kong and Macao, and 9,000 overseas talents have enjoyed the preferential individual income tax policies in the Greater Bay Area,” Gong revealed.

In the future, Guangdong will also formulate open talent policies, construct a series of large-scale scientific facilities, develop cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain, chip design and manufacturing as well as industrial software and technologies related to people’s daily life such as artificial intelligence, smart sensing and biomedicine.

In terms of education, Guangdong will vigorously enhance the comprehensive strength of colleges and universities. Wu Yanling, official of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, stated that the province will accelerate the construction of world-class universities and first-class disciplines. “We will promote colleges and universities, such as South China Agricultural University and Southern University of Science and Technology, to enter a new round of ‘Double-First Class’ list,” Wu said.

Note: Chinese authorities on September 21, 2017 released a selected list of universities and colleges, which will participate in the country’s construction plan of world-class universities and first-class disciplines. The plan, also known as the “Double-First Class” initiative, aims to ultimately build a number of world class universities and disciplines by the end of 2050, in an effort to make China an international higher education power.

R&D investment surpasses most developed countries and regions

The Plan sets up 10 quantitative predictive indicators such as the intensity of R&D investment in the whole society and the proportion of basic research expenditures in R&D expenditures. Among them, in terms of R&D investment intensity, Guangdong province will strive to reach about 3.5% of the R&D investment intensity at the end of the 2025, which exceeds the current investment level of most developed countries and regions. The basic research expenditures account for 10% of R&D expenditures, which has doubled compared to 5% during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, accelerating to catch up with the level of investment in developed countries and regions.

Author: Ariel

Editor: Jasmine, Jerry