Shanghai's Pudong New Area is now accepting applications for its "Pearl Leading Talent" program — a flagship initiative under the "Pearl Talent Plan" — aimed at attracting top-tier entrepreneurial and innovation-driven professionals who can lead scientific breakthroughs, industrial upgrades, and global collaboration in key sectors across the district.

 

Eligibility

1. Entrepreneurship category

(1) Applicants should hold a master's degree or higher from a leading university in China or abroad.

(2) Applicants should have prior entrepreneurial experience or have served in key positions at well-known universities, research institutes, or leading enterprises.

(3) Applicants must be the principal founder of the enterprise. For companies established for one to five years, the applicant must be the largest shareholder or individual shareholder and has secured over 20 million yuan ($2.9 million) in venture capital in principle. For companies established for five years five or more , the applicant must be the founder, and the new investment amount should generally not be less than 50 million yuan.

The establishment date of the enterprise is determined based on its official registration date, with the cutoff set at Jan 1, 2025. The calculation of new investment starts from Jan 1, 2023.

(4) The enterprise founded by the applicant must possess technological achievements that are internationally advanced or capable of filling significant domestic market gaps, with strong potential for industrialization.

(5) There must be no disputes over intellectual property rights, confidentiality agreements, non-compete clauses, or restrictions on receiving compensation from multiple positions, and the applicant must provide a clear commitment to this effect.

Exceptional candidates may have the educational requirements relaxed upon expert recommendation.

Each employer may nominate no more than one applicant for the entrepreneurship category.

2. Innovation category

(1) Applicants should hold a doctoral degree from a leading university in China or abroad.

(2) Applicants should have experience serving as associate professor (or an equivalent or higher-level position) at a leading university or research institute, or have held a key management or technical position at a leading enterprise.

(3) Within the past five years, applicants must have published significant papers in reputable domestic or international journals or be listed as the inventor of major scientific and technological achievements. The cutoff date for this requirement is Jan 1, 2025.

(4) Applicants must hold a senior management or technical position at an employer based in Pudong.

(5) There must be no disputes over intellectual property rights, confidentiality agreements, non-compete clauses, or restrictions on receiving compensation from multiple positions, and the applicant must provide a clear commitment to this effect.

Exceptional candidates may have the educational requirements relaxed upon expert recommendation.

Eligible applicants must already be working full-time at the employer or have signed a full-time employment contract or letter of intent with the employer, and must commit to working full-time at the employer for no less than three years upon selection.

For the innovation category of the "Pearl Leading Talent" program, each employer may nominate up to 10 candidates. Newly introduced talent must account for at least 20 percent of the total, unless only one candidate is nominated. Newly introduced overseas talent is not counted toward the quota.

"Newly introduced" refers to individuals who have signed a letter of intent but have not yet started full-time work in Pudong, or who began full-time work in Pudong on or after Jan 1, 2024.

"Newly introduced overseas talent" refers to individuals who have worked or studied overseas for 12 months or more, have either signed a letter of intent but have not yet come to work full-time in China, or began full-time work in China on or after Jan 1, 2024.

Programs of the same type under the "Pearl Talent Plan" may be applied for no more than twice within three years.

 

Support

1. Funding for individuals and teams

Each selected applicant will receive a one-time funding grant of 1 million yuan.

Core team members recommended by selected candidates in the entrepreneurship category (who must be senior management or technical personnel at the same employer, and generally no more than three people) may be recommended as candidates for the "Pearl Elite Talent" (innovation category).

2. Business development support

Entrepreneurship category selectees will receive priority access to industrial land and office rental space, along with an annual rent subsidy of up to 500,000 yuan for three years.

Enterprises or institutions founded by selected applicants will benefit from a fast-track policy service channel that includes institutional subsidies, support for technology companies and R&D projects, intellectual property funding, investment and financing assistance, and support for talent residency. After review by relevant authorities through special policy evaluations, these enterprises will receive preferential policy support under equal conditions.

3. Living support

Qualified selectees will receive a monthly housing subsidy of 6,000 yuan for up to five years. They will also be given priority access to district-level talent apartments.

Selectees can also enjoy comprehensive services, including residency assistance, health care, health checkups, and recuperation. They may benefit from direct recommendations for permanent residency in Pudong, long-term work and residence permits, and simplified customs procedures for personal belongings upon entry and exit.

 

Application

The application period for this year is from June 16 to July 31, 2025.

Applications must be submitted online; no paper materials are required.

Applicants should submit their application materials through their employers. For details, please visit https://rczc.pudong.gov.cn or https://pyd.pudong.gov.cn/rczc/, where applicants can complete the online application form and upload relevant supporting documents as attachments.

Required attachments are as follows:

• Identification documents
• Degree certificates, academic credential verification, professional qualification certificates, and other materials that demonstrate professional competence
• A signed employment contract or letter of intent with the employer. Entrepreneurial talent must also provide supporting documents such as shareholder certificates, articles of association, proof of venture capital funding, and project investment documentation
• Proof of work experience
• Proof of scientific research achievements and projects led by the applicant
• Other required materials

 

For inquiries, please call 021-5860-1269 or 021-5860-1307.

 

Source: Official website of Pudong International Talent Hub