US Restrictions : From 2008 to 2018, China endeavoured to attract top-tier scientists with generous funding through the Thousand Talents Plan (TTP), a program that the U.S. perceived as a challenge to its interests and technological dominance.
After a two-year hiatus due to U.S. scrutiny, China discreetly reintroduced the initiative with a fresh name and structure. This resurgence aligns with its broader goal of fast-tracking technological competence.
This information comes from three informed sources and an analysis of over 500 government records between 2019 and 2023 conducted by Reuters. They have unveiled the renewed recruitment push, presenting comprehensive details for the first time.
US Restrictions & Initiative Offers
The initiative offers enticing advantages, including subsidies for home purchases and customary signing bonuses ranging from 3 to 5 million yuan. China has established talent programs across various government tiers, aiming to attract both overseas Chinese and foreign experts.
The principal successor to the Thousand Talents Plan (TTP) is a program named Qiming, overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This information is substantiated by official policy documents at national and local levels, online recruitment advertisements, and insights from an individual with direct knowledge of the matter.
Amidst President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on achieving semiconductor self-reliance in response to U.S. pressure, a competition for tech talent ensues.
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