Talent holds the key for Changchun industrial park
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Aerial view of the southern area of the Changchun National High-tech Industrial Development Zone. Photos Provided to China Daily |
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Clockwise from upper left: A conference for "Changbai Wisdom Valley" that aims to attract top experts from around the globe; Researchers at a local photoelectric firm; Technicians working at a biomedicine company in the zone; Longxiang (or dragon riding the wind) Square in the zone; Sanjia Lake in the high-tech zone. |
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A wetland-themed park in the zone. Its appealing ecosystem adds to the attraction for high-tech startup companies. |
First 14 participants in new program have already received 9.45 million yuan as administrators look to fuel growth and social development
The Changchun National High-tech Industrial Development Zone in the capital of Northeast China's Jilin province is now developing the "Changbai Wisdom Valley" to attract top experts from around the globe.
Designed to give the park founded in 1991 cutting-edge technology, the new talent zone aims to draw at least 30 leading overseas experts and 200 high-level specialists that have plans for high-tech startup projects, in addition to 300 management professionals and 1,000 researchers over the next five years.
The first 14 overseas professionals signed with the area in March. Eight months later, a second group of 28 joined the lineup.
Chen Yuhua, now president and general manager of Changchun Shenwang Science and Technology Co, told local media that the Changchun high-tech zone offers great help to companies during the startup phase.
Before a senior Silicon Valley engineer, Chen returned to China over the objections of his family and established his own business in the high-tech zone.
"The zone's support is on par with that offered in Suzhou and Hangzhou, where high-tech zones began earlier and already have a solid base," he said.
Priority in work
"Human resources are the primary productive force," said Yang Junliang, a senior official of the zone's administrative committee. "The results of introducing HR are a key indicator of production capacity and industrial modernization."
"HR provides the most important guarantee of realizing the goals set for 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), " Yang said.
The zone's authorities made it clear in a development strategy formulated in 2009 that they place priorities on drawing experts from outside and at the same time nurturing local talent.
Today, attracting new talent is the core work at the zone's administrative committee. The first 14 participants in the program have already received 9.45 million yuan (about $1.51 million) in funding help. The second group of 28 professionals has benefited from 3.44 million yuan.
Administrators of the special talent zone said attracting high-level professionals is not a goal in itself, but the beginning of a process that will see participants lead growth in industry, brands and overall business.
Efforts continue to create an attractive professional environment for experts and specialists. One initiative is a program called the "Chinese Academy of Sciences innovation cluster" that has connections with 53 research institutes and technology centers affiliated to the academy.
Administrators are also moving to streamline industrialization of research results. Ten service agencies in the legal, financial and intellectual property sectors are now operating that have already helped develop and trade more than 1,000 technological innovations.
Improved financial services have resulted in local companies receiving a total of 419 million yuan in loans last year. To better serve startups, authorities are building a 20,000 sq m technological park at a cost of 5 billion yuan ($800 million) that is designed to accommodate 500 tech-driven small companies and create more than 20,000 jobs for researchers and professionals.
Human touch
Services and a human touch also help attract talent.
Li Xinghua was one of the first experts drawn to the zone. Now president of Changchun Guohan Science and Technology Co, he recalls that "when I started my business, the company had no office, so the authorities helped me a lot during that time".
The zone's administrative committee has also designated 26 special assistants to provide tailor-made services for local companies. They make regular visits to companies to learn their needs and help resolve difficulties.
And one-stop services have streamlined administrative procedures and improved work efficiency.
The HR area is expected develop briskly in the next five years, with more efficient services, innovations in policy and a more friendly climate for startup tech firms.
The Changchun city government has formulated policies that give participating experts and specialists help with schools for their children and employment for their spouses.
The high-tech zone is now home to companies working in advanced equipment manufacturing, biotechnology and medicine, optoelectronics, new materials and new energy, high-quality food processing and high-end production services.
According to the latest report, high-level professionals are especially needed in a wide range of sectors - new energy vehicles, computer-controlled machines, vaccines, genetically engineered drug, innovated traditional Chinese medicine, LED, renewable energy, new materials, organic food and the creative industry.
Local officials say experts and specialists in the sectors are eligible to apply for government-aided funding before the end of next July if they have registered a startup company with the zone's administration of commerce and industry and the tax bureau. The application form can be downloaded from the special HR area's official website.
xuxiao@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 12/18/2012 page6)