Xiong'an: An emerging hub of innovation, livability

Attracting talent

His feelings about Xiong'an attractions are shared by other talents moving there.

Zhang Zequn, a PhD candidate jointly supervised by the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Anhui province and Eastern Institute of Technology in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, came to Xiong'an in August 2024.

As a talent, he represents a major new type of cohort in Xiong'an. "In July last year, I visited Xiong'an for the first time to evaluate its ecosystem and support for emerging industries, which turned out to be very encouraging," Zhang said, adding that he and his peers immediately decided to create a company there.

According to Zhang, the area has strong policy backing, with targeted incentives for cutting-edge sectors aligned with his startup's vision.

Though he is only 26 years old, Zhang co-founded Xiong'an Anying Technology Co with his peers, serving as a chief technology officer. The company contributes to the advancement of medical AI solutions.

"The four of us unanimously chose Xiong'an, a new city full of opportunities, to incubate our cutting-edge products," Zhang said. The company's chairman Zhou Haoran, 27, is from Tsinghua University, while the other two founders are a returnee from Australia and a graduate from Chongqing.

The team is developing and promoting a portable cerebral hemorrhage detection and analysis device aimed at addressing urgent brain medical needs such as strokes, by providing rapid qualitative screening and real-time intracranial bleeding monitoring, Zhang said.

"This empowers medical institutions to provide brain imaging at patients' sides promptly, reducing the time from symptom onset to treatment or intervention," Zhang said, adding that the device is expected to launch by the end the year after completing clinical trials.

"Xiong'an itself is a dream, and a place where we young people can realize our dreams like this," he said.

Ni Yuefeng, the provincial Party secretary, said that more than 170 academicians, over 1,000 entrepreneurs from Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park, and more than 50,000 college students have visited Xiong'an to evaluate what it has to offer. "After experiencing the modern vibe of Xiong'an, more and more innovative talents are voting with their feet for the new area," Ni said.

A large number of talented people in their fields have chosen Xiong'an and, like Zhang, have settled in the area to pursue their dreams, according to the administrative committee of Xiong'an.

With the attraction of talent, Xiong'an is focused on becoming an innovation hub and entrepreneurship hot spot of the new era. "A series of high-level innovation platforms have been established to cover all stages from research and development to commercialization," said Zhang Guohua, top official of the new area.

According to Zhang, Xiong'an has integrated into Beijing's high-level talent hub, attracted leading enterprises, key figures, and innovation teams, established an alliance for relocated universities, set up a special fund for talent, and implemented the Sixteen Xiong Talents Policies.

Among the 16 policies is a measure to attract top global talent for key development industries such as new-generation information technology, modern life sciences and biotechnology, new materials, aerospace information, green energy, and fintech. To work in Xiong'an, top scientists will be offered with 20 to 50 million yuan in research funding and 3 million yuan in living allowances, plus spacious accommodations of no less than 200 square meters.

"Such benefits are unmatched by other cities," Zhang Zequn, the PhD candidate, said.

While various policies are offered to attract new talent to Xiong'an, the original residents of the area, which covers Anxin, Rongcheng and Xiongxian counties, have not been forgotten.

According to Zhang Guohua, more than 100,000 local people are gradually transitioning from rural to urban life.

"We are creating a city that's friendly for people of all ages, constructing a series of wonderful city scenes, building 15-minute living circles, and making a high-quality living environment a distinct feature of Xiong'an," he said.

With its dual focus on innovation and livability, Xiong'an is poised to redefine urban development in China.