Determining who qualifies as a highly-skilled, sophisticated and cutting-edge foreign talent in Shanghai involves a comprehensive set of criteria. To have a clear picture of that, there is hardly a better source of reference than the official document issued and updated by Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, which is presented below.

Criteria for Identifying Highly-skilled, Sophisticated and Cutting-edge Foreign Talents in Shanghai (Trial)

1.       Inclusion in China's talent introduction programs

Individuals endorsed by talent introduction plans, which are recognized by vice-provincial level or higher talent authorities approved by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

2.       Internationally recognized professional achievements

(1)     Nobel Prize laureates (physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, economics);

(2)     Recipients of prestigious international awards and honors: National Medal of Science (US), National Medal of Technology and Innovation (US); National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) medals (France); Royal Gold Medal (UK); Copley Medal; Turing Award; Fields Medal; Wolf Prize in Mathematics; Abel Prize; Lasker Award; Crafoord Prize; Japan Prize; Kyoto Prize; Shaw Prize; prestigious architecture awards; prestigious industrial design awards; Kavli Prize; Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize; Lorentz Medal; Shannon Award; Breakthrough Prize; Brain Prize; Enrico Fermi Award; Max Planck Medal; Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation; Roger Adams Award in Organic chemistry; Darwin Awards; and other international awards;

(3)     Recipients of the Shanghai Science and Technology Award;

(4)     Academicians of national academies of sciences and engineering globally;

(5)     Former members of esteemed academic institutions and scientific and educational organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization;

(6)     Directors and senior researchers at national research institutes and national laboratories of various countries;

(7)     Leaders, chief scientists, and key members of science and technology programs of various countries;

(8)     Former editors-in-chief, deputy editors-in-chief, and senior members of world-class journals of science and technology (JCR Categories I and II);

(9)     Those who have published at least three papers as first author or corresponding author (including authors with equivalent contributions) in world-class journals of science and technology (JCR Categories I and II in the fields of endeavor);

(10)  Those who once served in middle-level management positions or above in esteemed universities or research institutions at home and abroad, or who were appointed as professors (researchers) or associate professors (associate researchers);

(11)  Those who once held senior management positions or were key technology R&D members in the headquarters of Fortune Global 500 companies. Those who once held positions as deputy general managers or above or headed technology R&D teams at their secondary companies or regional headquarters;

(12)  Those who once held senior executive positions in internationally renowned financial institutions and accounting firms;

(13)  Presidents, vice-presidents, professors, and associate professors of world-famous colleges and universities of music, fine arts, and the arts;

(14)  Chief conductors and vocalists with world-famous orchestras;

(15)  Artists who have given solo performances at world-famous opera houses or concert halls;

(16)  Those who have individually won the top prize of prestigious literary, film, television, drama, music, and advertising awards, as well as the grand prize and first prize in Category I contests, or the grand prize for individuals in Category II contests. Those who have served as judges for the aforementioned awards and competitions;

(17)  Recognized athletes who have achieved top-eight rankings in the Olympic Games, World Cups, World Championships, and other significant international competitions within the sports categories featured in the two most recent Olympic Games. This also encompasses athletes who secured top-three positions in the Asian Games, Asian Cups, and Asian Championships relevant to sports included in the two most recent editions of the Asian Games. Additionally, this category extends to head coaches and essential members of the coaching staff directly involved in the training and development of these athletes;

(18)  Those who once held leadership positions at the ministerial level or above in foreign government agencies or senior leadership positions in prominent international organizations or non-governmental organizations;

(19)  Winners of world and national skills competitions, and professionals engaged in training for their competition events. Highly skilled talents who hold the highest level of internationally recognized vocational skills qualification certificates or China’s senior technician vocational skills qualification certificates;

3.       Foreign talents fulfilling the market demand for government-encouraged posts

(1)     Individuals in senior management or technical positions at the following entities: the centrally-administered State-owned enterprises or their secondary subsidiaries; global or regional headquarters of Fortune Global 500 companies; national high-tech enterprises recognized by provincial-level and higher science and technology departments; large enterprises; companies listed in China's top 500 enterprises; unicorn companies; "little giants" of specialized and sophisticated enterprises engaged in the development of new and unique products, officially acknowledged by provincial-level industry and information departments or higher authorities;

(2)     Individuals occupying senior management or technical roles at the following establishments as recognized by national and Shanghai municipal departments:

Those recognized by national departments:
National key laboratories (endorsed by national science and technology departments);
Corporate engineering research centers (acknowledged by national development and reform departments);
Engineering laboratories (certified by national development and reform departments);
Engineering technology research centers (approved by national science and technology departments);
Corporate technology centers (recognized by national industry and information departments);
Local technology innovation service platforms (recognized by national science and technology departments);

Those recognized by Shanghai municipal departments:
New-type research and development institutions (recognized by Shanghai’s science and technology departments)
Foreign-funded R&D centers (recognized by Shanghai’s commerce departments);
Trading headquarters (recognized by Shanghai’s commerce commission);
Headquarters for private enterprise (recognized by Shanghai’s commerce commission);
Platforms for R&D and transformation (recognized by Shanghai’s science and technology departments)

(3)     Individuals in senior management or technical roles within medium-sized enterprises, including both Chinese and international companies. This category also comprises individuals serving as chairman, legal representative, general manager, or chief technology expert of foreign-invested enterprises in Shanghai specializing in the export of advanced technologies or products. Additionally, it includes individuals serving as chairman, legal representative, general manager, or chief technology expert within small foreign-invested enterprises operating in industries listed in the Catalogue of Industries for Encouraging Foreign Investment;

(4)     Individuals holding senior management positions or higher roles within institutions of higher learning or scientific research institutions. This category also encompasses individuals serving as associate professors or associate researchers within these institutions. Additionally, it includes those employed by vocational institutions in professional and technical positions above the deputy senior level, such as senior lecturers and senior internship instructors;

(5)     Individuals appointed by China's Grade A tertiary general hospitals, urban specialist hospitals at or above the sub-provincial level, or foreign-funded hospitals to hold senior management positions or professional and technical roles above the deputy senior level;

(6) Chief conductors, artistic directors, and principal performers employed by leading Chinese orchestras and other prominent art groups;

(7) Individuals in senior management or technical positions employed by centrally-administered State-owned media outlets and local mainstream media outlets, such as chief editors, deputy chief editors, chief announcers, senior hosts, lead planners, and layout designer directors;

(8) Key players, head coaches, or core members of coaching staff recruited by national-level or provincial-level sports teams or clubs;

(9) Foreign talents whose average wage income is not less than six times the average wage income of all urban employees in the region in the previous year.

4.       Innovative and entrepreneurial talents

(1)     Founders of enterprises who invest with their own major technological inventions, patents, and other independent intellectual property rights or proprietary technologies, maintaining stable investment for three consecutive years. Their cumulative investment in the enterprises should be no less than $500,000, with personal shares amounting to no less than 30 percent;

(2)     Chairpersons, legal representatives, general managers, or chief technology experts of enterprises who invest with their major technological inventions, patents, and other independent intellectual property rights or proprietary technologies. They must demonstrate annual sales exceeding 10 million yuan ($1.38 million) or annual tax payments exceeding 1 million yuan for three consecutive years;

(3)     Personnel holding senior management or technical positions hired by entities included in the list of innovation enterprises or the list of scientific and technological innovation occupations. Both lists should be formulated by provincial-level departments;

5.       Outstanding young talents

(1)     Individuals under the age of 40 who have participated in postdoctoral research at domestic or foreign universities, research institutions, enterprises, and medical and healthcare institutions;

(2)     Professionals holding doctoral degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), who graduated from the world's top 200 universities within the past five years, and are under the age of 40;

(3)     Outstanding fresh graduates who have obtained bachelor's degrees or higher from the world’s top 10 universities;

6.       Foreigners scoring over 85 points in the Points-Based System

7.       Talents recommended by relevant departments

These individuals are expected to contribute to the implementation of key national strategies, the development of pivotal sectors, and the execution of major projects. Additionally, they are tasked with advancing critical core technologies and aligning with the needs of local industrial and socio-economic development. Upon obtaining a recommendation letter for the work permit for foreign high-end talents (Category A) from the relevant industry regulatory authorities of Shanghai and receiving approval from the department responsible for administering foreigners’ work permits, they will be designated as Talents Recommended by Relevant Departments. This designation is updated in real-time in the Management and Service System for Foreigners Working in China.

Furthermore, a report on these talents must be submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security every six months for record keeping.

Source: sgst.cn