Jinan upgrades talent policies to expand appeal

Jinan has unveiled the 2026 edition of its "Double 30 Measures" talent policy, offering enhanced incentives aimed at increasing its appeal to high-level professionals worldwide.

The city has been ranked as China's annual top destination for talent attraction for four consecutive years and recognized as a national talent-friendly city for two years in a row. Its talent pool has grown to 3.1 million, seeing a significant rise since the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016–20).

The latest policy update further refines talent classification and certification standards, simplifies application procedures, and improves support for innovation. This year's edition places a greater emphasis on industry-specific and enterprise-oriented measures. A key feature is a housing subsidy program for postgraduates employed by specialized and sophisticated private enterprises. Grants for PhD and master's graduates within five years of graduation have been increased to 250,000 yuan ($36,595) and 150,000 yuan, respectively.

To encourage entrepreneurship, the city has improved support for innovation clusters, encouraging districts and functional zones to develop leading hubs for innovation-driven growth. Additionally, Jinan will select and support 100 technology start-ups founded by young talent each year, offering 100,000 yuan in start-up funding to each company.

The revised policy also strengthens the city's talent development ecosystem. New measures support the establishment of concept validation centers and the improvement of pilot manufacturing platforms. Jinan will further develop its open competition mechanism for major technological projects, encouraging enterprises to take the lead in joint research with universities and research institutes.

A city view of Jinan. [Photo/VCG]