By Li Qianfang
Innovation Platform: China Artificial Intelligence Town (Photo from: Hangzhou Beureau of Statistics)
Hangzhou International Android and Robot Technology Exhibition (Photo from: Xu Jianbo)
By Fang Boyi
In the global landscape of innovation and entrepreneurship, Hangzhou is emerging as the destination of choice for a growing number of high-level overseas talents, thanks to its distinctive policy advantages, comprehensive service system, and favorable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Policy-Driven Growth: Building a Full-Chain Support System
Since introducing its first policy to support overseas-educated talent in entrepreneurship in 2001, Hangzhou has remained at the forefront nationwide. Over the past two decades, Hangzhou has continuously upgraded its talent policies, expanding from initial financial support to more than 20 areas including residency, housing, social security, children’s education, entry and exit, business registration, and patent applications, thereby creating a full-chain system that covers both entrepreneurship and daily life. Data shows that the governments have provided more than 330 million RMB in support for 1,186 overseas-educated talent projects, serving as solid support for business growth — Hangzhou has created unprecedented opportunities for overseas-educated talent to grow and thrive.
In Gongshu district, the China-Europe Talent Exchange and Innovation Cooperation Center has shortened the integration timeline of overseas projects from 12 months to just 3 months, while helping talent-led enterprises secure nearly 300 million RMB in financing.
Yuhang district through its “Golden 20 Policies”, has advanced the “Global Talent Partnership”, offering up to 100 million RMB in support for top-tier talent projects.
Xihu district, positioned as the 'first stop' for young talents to stay in Hangzhou, has introduced the “Xihu Talent” fast-track mechanism, with a total talent pool of over 400,000. Meanwhile, Binjiang district’s “5050” policy has led the trend for 15 consecutive years, fostering dozens of unicorn enterprises.
Service Empowerment: Comprehensive Support for Entrepreneurs
Beyond policy support, Hangzhou has also earned the praise of overseas-educated entrepreneurs through its attentive and comprehensive services. Hangzhou’s annual Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition for Overseas Talents, themed “Creating the World · Sailing to the Future”, is a concentrated demonstration of this comprehensive service system. The competition not only features dedicated sessions for overseas-educated talents and foreigners, but also provides entrepreneurial mentors, customized training programs, and facilitates connections with investors through job fairs, startup salons, and events such as the Maker Rainbow Bridge.
More importantly, to encourage greater participation from overseas talents, projects that win the competition not only receive prize money, but also enjoy comprehensive policy support after landing, including tax incentives, rent subsidies, financing guarantees, and interest-subsidized loans.
To date, Hangzhou has established 11 entrepreneurship parks for overseas-educated talents, spanning national, provincial, and municipal levels. In addition, the municipally operated “Overseas Returnee Town Entrepreneurship Park”, led by private capital, has further expanded the capacity for overseas-educated entrepreneurs.
Global Appeal: Hangzhou as the First Choice for Talent
Hangzhou’s consistent ranking over 14 years as the “Most Attractive Chinese City for Foreign Talent”, along with its leading net inflow of overseas talents nationwide, owes a good deal to its favorable entrepreneurial environment and strong alignment with industry needs.
The “Creating the World · Sailing to the Future” Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition for Overseas Talents 2025 · Hangzhou closely follows the city’s industrial development trends, covering key sectors such as the digital economy, life and health, and advanced manufacturing, while also introducing cutting-edge industries including artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics, brain-inspired intelligence, and digital medicine, helping overseas-educated projects integrate into Hangzhou’s dynamic growth.
Over the past eleven years, the competition has attracted more than 12,000 projects, with nearly 400 of them landing in Hangzhou and a total registered capital exceeding 3 billion RMB. PhD holders and teams from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany have chosen Hangzhou as their first stop for entrepreneurship, further demonstrating the city’s international influence and strong appeal to global talent.
“The first choice for overseas-educated entrepreneurs” is no longer just a slogan for Hangzhou, but a real choice for an increasing number of international talent. In Hangzhou, there is not only policy support, but also abundant industrial opportunities. In the future, the city is set to become a shining landmark on the global innovation map.