Songjiang is earning a reputation as a top talent base

Songjiang District is earning a reputation as a talent base. Last year, it had 79 workstations with 22 academics and 307 industry experts, ranking it at the top of Shanghai for three years.

Since 2020, Songjiang-based Union Tech has worked with Professor Li Fei on industrial 3D printing. The lab solved the shell swelling problem of photosensitive resin in precision casting. Shenyang Engine placed orders for the new product, doubling the company's annual output value in 2022.

Jintuo Technology, which is engaged in the research, production and sales of aluminum alloy precision die castings, opened a work studio for Professor Liu Jie from Shanghai University in 2018.

Liu is also involved with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Collaboration helped Jintuo bag 16 utility patents and three invention patents at the initial approval stage.

The expert station project has improved technical research, benefited corporations and trained people in specialized skills.

Over the past two years, the stations have carried out consultations 443 times with local firms, 101 times in decision-making reports, delivered 504 lectures, trained 412 technical professionals, enjoyed 278 high-tech successes and obtained 103 invention patents.

"Enterprises are in severe need of high-end intelligence and talent resources, and the government is eager to match them and provide them with an open exchange platform," said Feng Li, director of Songjiang Science and Technology Association and Commission Innovation Service Department.

She visits Songjiang's high-tech firms regularly to listen to their demands, advise on material submission and recommend qualified applicants for the municipal station of academicians and experts. Nearly 60 Songjiang businesses are under incubation or preparation right now.

These stations receive one-time start-up bonuses, incentive subsidies and team-building funding from the local government.