Guangdong's 'Yangfan Plan' 2014 Applications Open — Four Talent Programs Available to University Staff

It is reported that the 2014 round of Guangdong Province’s “Yangfan Plan” (Sail Plan) — part of the broader initiative to support talent development in eastern, western, and northern Guangdong — has officially opened. As a university located in the region, Shantou University is eligible to participate in all four programs.

Program 1: Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teams

Open to teams from outside Guangdong province, overseas, and the Pearl River Delta region. Up to 10 teams will be selected across three tiers, with provincial grants of RMB 8 million, RMB 5 million, or RMB 3 million respectively (90% for research expenses, 10% for living allowances).

Key requirements:

• Teams consist of 1 leader and at least 3 core members
• Members generally under age 60 (up to 65 for academicians or equivalent top-tier talent)
• Teams must commit to working in Guangdong for at least 5 years, with at least 1 core member working full-time at Shantou University
• Science and technology innovation teams must hold key core technologies and independent intellectual property rights; entrepreneurship teams must have registered enterprises in Guangdong that are in pilot production or industrialization stage

Program 2: Urgently Needed Top Talent

Open to candidates from outside Guangdong and abroad. Up to 20 top-tier professionals inleading industries, characteristic industries, major projects, and university/research discipline development will receive RMB 500,000 or RMB 1 million each (80% for research, 20% for living allowance).

Key requirements:

• Under age 55, with a doctoral degree or senior professional title
• Must commit to full-time work in Guangdong for at least 3 years after appointment
• Must meet at least one criterion: professional talent with independent IP driving industry innovation, key technical talent for major projects, top talent for university/research discipline development, or other high-level talent urgently needed by local economic and social development

Program 3: High-Level Talent Cultivation

Up to 30 promising mid-career researchers from eastern, western, and northern Guangdong will be selected as key cultivation targets, receiving RMB 200,000 in research funding each.

Key requirements:

• Under age 50, with a doctoral degree or senior professional title
• Must have worked full-time in the region continuously since October 28, 2011, and commit to at least 3 more years
• Must meet at least one criterion: principal recipient of provincial/ministerial-level science award (second prize or above), National Natural Science Foundation recipient, head of provincial laboratory or national engineering center, holder of invention patent (ranked first), or key technical contributor to provincial-level science projects

Program 4: Postdoctoral Support

Postdoctoral researchers stationed in the region will receive RMB 120,000 per year in research funding and living allowance (distributed annually), for up to 2 years. Postdocs who do not reach the maximum standard may apply for a top-up of RMB 40,000 per year.

Key requirements:

• Conducting research at a postdoctoral mobile station, workstation, or innovation practice base in eastern, western, or northern Guangdong
• Stationed at the time of the announcement
• Pass mid-term and exit assessments

Campus Submission Deadline

Applicants must submit printed materials (recommendation summary, application forms, and supporting documents, bound) to the Human Resources Office (Administrative Center, Room 315) and email electronic copies (under 1 MB) to wing@stu.edu.cn by November 10, 2014.

Detailed application guidelines for each program are available on the Guangdong Organization Work website (gdzz.cn). Applicants may not simultaneously apply for both the Innovation Team and Top Talent programs.

Source: STU OA Notice (Human Resources Office)