Last April, Charles M. Lieber, a globally renowned scientist in nanoscience and chemistry, joined Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS) as a full-time professor. He was also appointed an investigator at the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART). “Shenzhen’s dynamism and innovative spirit align perfectly with my vision to co-create a global scientific hub here,” Lieber said at his appointment ceremony. “I am eager to embark on this journey, collaborating with SIGS and SMART to turn ambitious scientific dreams into reality.”Shenzhen, with innovation in its DNA, has emerged as a powerful magnet for global talent, drawing professionals with its inclusive vision, streamlined systems, and a livable and business-friendly environment. Key to its allure is a flexible, case-by-case policy for top-tier talent that empowers strategic scientists with full control over personnel, budgets, and technology roadmaps, freeing them to pursue breakthrough innovation.Lieber’s move exemplifies this approach. In the year following his arrival, other leading scientists followed, including neurobiologists Lu Wei and Dan Yang, OpenAI researcher Yao Shunyu, and Pang Tianyu, formerly a senior scientist at Singapore’s Sea AI Lab. Their decisions underscore Shenzhen’s singular appeal to the world’s brightest minds.This success is part of a broader pattern. In 2019, Fields Medalist Efim Zelmanov established the Shenzhen International Center for Mathematics at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and became a full-time professor there in 2022. AI pioneer and U.S. National Academy of Engineering foreign member Harry Shum now leads the International Digital Economy Academy. Prof. Li Zexiang of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology founded Shenzhen InnoX Academy, and renowned biologist Yan Ning returned from the U.S. to help establish SMART.
The numbers tell the story of a thriving talent ecosystem. Last year, 1,050 Shenzhen-based scientists ranked among the world’s top 2% according to Stanford University, and three young local researchers made MIT Technology Review’s “Innovators Under 35” list.Beyond policy, world-class platforms are central to Shenzhen’s talent strategy. The Qianhai Block V international talent hub, which opened last August, has hosted more than 60 events. Its Qianhai SIES Alliance connects scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors, recruiting two top overseas professionals with multi-million-yuan packages. The alliance also offers a Shenzhen-Hong Kong 72-hour Experience Voucher that covers airfare, accommodation, and job matching for global applicants.Meanwhile, the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone is pioneering cross-border talent development. Partnering with top Hong Kong universities, it has introduced a dual-appointment system for professors and enlisted mentors from Huawei and Tencent.Institutional innovations and upgraded infrastructure now allow key research inputs to move between Hong Kong and Shenzhen within 30 minutes. Over 1,500 researchers are on a cross-border shuttle whitelist, and cross-border data transactions have topped 300 million yuan (US$43.56 million).Attracting talent is only half the equation — retaining matters equally. As Guangdong’s most comprehensive national pilot for foreign talent services, Qianhai allows research assistants of high-end foreign professionals to obtain work permits aligned with their employment terms. The area has launched its first international talent community, opened nine international schools and 10 international medical institutions, and unveiled the first international hospital accreditation standard.
Shenzhen is also continuously improving frontline services for foreigners. One-stop centers at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint assist international travelers with payments, transport, and connectivity. The city’s International Visa and Certification Service Center streamlines visas, notarizations, and authentications.This worry-free ecosystem reflects Shenzhen’s human touch. The message is clear: Here, talent finds not only a stage for achievement but also a place to call home.