On a case-by-case basis, Sichuan will introduce scientists and technologists in strategically important and core technological fields to meet special needs. Recently, the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province and four other departments jointly issued the Sci-tech Talent Development Plan during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period. According to the Plan, Sichuan will boast about 250 strategic scientists and reserve talent by 2025.
To secure Sichuan's place in the national domain of innovation, the key lies in the gathering of sci-tech talent, particularly scientists and technologists in strategically important and core technological fields, sci-tech leaders, young sci-tech talent and high-level innovation teams, as well as in assigning sci-tech talent to positions that can best utilize their expertise. The Plan calls for expanding national strategic science and technology capabilities at a faster pace, cultivating, introducing and utilizing strategic scientists, fostering top-level sci-tech leaders and innovation teams, and nurturing young sci-tech talent.
Strategic scientists are commanders in the field of science and elites that strengthen national strategic science and technology capabilities. The CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee has decided to build national laboratories and Tianfu Laboratory, and implement a number of major science and technology projects of strategic importance to contribute to national high-level self-reliance in science and technology. Involving many original, leading, and disruptive technological innovations, these projects are in urgent need of strategic scientists who can leverage their leadership in related fields. The Plan proposes to cultivate and introduce a number of strategic scientists through major innovation platforms. On a case-by-case basis, Sichuan will introduce scientists and technologists in strategically important and core technological fields to meet special needs. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, efforts will be made to cultivate and introduce about 15 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and develop about 100 leading scientists and outstanding engineering and technical experts with the potential to grow into academicians of CAS and CAE. Sichuan will boast about 250 strategic scientists and reserve talent by 2025.
When it comes to fostering top-level sci-tech leaders and innovation teams, the Plan proposes to cultivate and introduce 3,700 sci-tech leaders, and 150 innovation and entrepreneurship teams through provincial-level talent programs during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. In addition, the special allocation mechanism for talent in core technological fields will be put in place. The leading group for cultivating and introducing talent of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee can seek solutions to meet responsible institutions' needs for talent and help select talent, and carry out the selection of talented people who will contribute to making breakthroughs.
Nurturing young sci-tech talent is critical to the strategic reserve of sci-tech talent. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, by focusing on national and provincial strategic demand and the frontier of basic scientific subjects, Sichuan will provide continuous support to a number of young sci-tech talent that have made impressive achievements in the field of natural sciences and that have strong innovation potential. By relying on various technologies and talent programs, Sichuan will expand and scale up young sci-tech talent support. Moreover, 1,350 young scientists, 1,000 budding talented people in sci-tech innovation and entrepreneurship will be cultivated and introduced, and 100 youth sci-tech innovation and research teams be built according to the provincial-level talent program.
In terms of nurturing young sci-tech talent, Sichuan will formulate supporting policies to speed up the innovative progress in work related to postdocs, implement the support project for postdoctoral innovative talent, and increase the subsidy and special subsidy for the daily expenses and research projects respectively for postdocs. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, about 165 new stations and bases for postdoctors will be built, and about 6,000 postdoctoral researchers will be added.
