Baoshan joins other city districts trying to lure global talent

Baoshan District on Thursday announced it will offer a housing subsidy of up to 2 million yuan (US$300,000) each for "top professionals" from either home or abroad.

The drawback is to get such a subsidy, one would need to be a super talented individual — such as having won a Nobel prize or one of China's top scientific and technological awards.

If you are a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or Chinese Academy of Engineering, you are also in with a chance, according to the Baoshan government.

Overseas experts under the central government's "global experts recruitment programs" will also be considered,  along with those who have made "outstanding contributions."

Baoshan's efforts to lure the brightest and the best comes amid a citywide trend to attract global talent, needed to achieve the city government's ambition to make Shanghai a national science and innovation hub.

Xuhui, Yangpu and the Pudong New Area have all announced policies to entice highly skilled people.

Baoshan's housing subsidies boost policies already released by the northern district to support professionals working there as well as to lure more of them to the traditional iron-steel base that is planning an economic transformation.

"Baoshan is striving to become a maritime Silk Road gateway with its cruise industry and needs the support from professionals from across the world," said Wang Hong, the Party secretary of Baoshan.

Eighty percent of the housing subsidy will be covered by district government and the rest will be paid by the employers to the professionals.

The "second level" of talent that the district is seeking includes leading scientists from national labs or winners of other major scientific awards can receive a 1 million yuan housing subsidy.

Those on the next level down — leaders of provincial level science labs or those with the title of "chief technicians" can be subsidized by 200,000 yuan. They can also receive two-year subsidies to rent an apartment in the district. The rental subsidy is equal to the average rent of a 120-square-meter apartment in Baoshan, which is about 7,000 yuan per month.

Others who can benefit from subsidies include district-level professionals and outstanding young talent in Baoshan, the government announced.

Elsewhere in the city, Yangpu District has announced it will offer 1 million yuan in an initial fund for entrepreneurs. The government also promised to provide a free 200-square-meter office for startup companies for three years.

Xuhui District has built about 2,000 apartments to be offered at highly subsidized rents along Huangpu River to accommodate professionals — with the lowest rents set at 1,800 yuan a month.