To foster Shanghai's growth as a leading talent hub and a global "city of design", the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization began accepting applications for the 2026 "U35 Plan" for young creative design talent.

I. Eligibility

1. Applicants are not restricted by nationality or household (hukou) registration. They should generally be no older than 35 and must have made social insurance contributions or paid individual income tax in Shanghai for a cumulative period of at least 12 months within the past two years.

2. Applicants shall be engaged in design disciplines such as industrial design, architectural design, fashion design, digital design, service design, and creative management.

II. Application procedures

(I) Candidate recommendation

1. Organizational recommendation:

District-level authorities overseeing creative design industries, relevant industry organizations, universities, key industrial parks, and corporate groups are encouraged to organize applications from qualified candidates.

2. Expert nomination:

Candidates may be nominated by prominent creative design professionals, university experts, and high-caliber young creative professionals selected in previous years.

3. Self-nomination:

Young professionals in the creative design industry who have achieved notable accomplishments domestically or internationally and made outstanding contributions may nominate themselves.

(II) Material submission

1. Applicants can visit the official Shanghai City of Design website at www.creativecity.sh.cn, complete the online application form, and upload the required supporting materials, including:

- Proof of identity (passport)

- Descriptions of representative projects

- Supporting documents for awards and patents

- Supporting documents for papers and monographs

- Any other materials the applicant considers important

2. Online application period: June 26 to July 22, 2026

Note: The system will close at 5 pm on July 22.

3. After submitting the application form online, applicants should export it, print the form and supporting materials double-sided on A4 paper, glue-bind them along the left edge, affix a cross-page seal, and submit two copies to the Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Design before July 25.

Address: 13th Floor, No 80 North Shaanxi Road, Jing'an district

Note: Delivery by courier is acceptable. Paper materials will not be returned.

III. Selection

(I) Procedures

1. Application materials are compiled and categorized by specialty.

2. Experts will conduct a document review to determine shortlisted candidates for each category.

3. A final review, including a presentation and Q&A session, will determine the proposed list of selected candidates.

(II) Selection criteria

1. Comprehensive influence: The program will assess the applicant's reputation and influence in the industry, contributions to industry development, professional experience and educational background, and participation in significant domestic and international creative design activities.

2. Innovation capability: The program will assess the applicant's design projects, awards and patents, and published papers and monographs.

3. Projects and industrialization: The program will assess the applicant's involvement in major projects, the scale of industrialization achieved for their creative design products, and the resulting economic and social benefits.

4. Credibility: The program will assess the applicant's personal conduct and credibility.

5. Overall evaluation of the enterprise and team: The program will assess the applicant's overall ability to manage an enterprise or team, as well as the enterprise or team's current scale, growth potential, and prospects.

IV. Support measures

1. Selected candidates will receive publicity and promotion at official events, including the World Design Cities Conference 2026.

2. Outstanding selected candidates may be recommended for various national and municipal talent programs. Selected candidates will receive support tailored to their respective categories, including personal incentives and career development services.

3. Enterprises where selected candidates work may be recommended for recognition as national industrial design centers, Shanghai design innovation centers, and Shanghai specialized, sophisticated, distinctive, and innovative SMEs. Outstanding designs may be recommended for the China Excellent Industrial Design Award and the "Shanghai Design 100+" global competition.

4. Selected candidates will be supported in applying, in accordance with relevant regulations, for Shanghai's special fund for cultural and creative industry development and its special fund for high-quality industrial development.

5. Districts are also encouraged to provide complementary support policies for selected candidates.

V. Contact

1. Creative design industry division, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization

Name: Du

Tel: 021-2311-2645

2. Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Design

Name: Ye

Tel: 188-0212-2328

3. Talent affairs contact

Name: Shao

Tel: 021-2311-7659

 

Sources: Official WeChat account of the Shanghai International Talent Center (ID: "sh-italent"), Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization