Notice on Issuing the Implementation Measures on Allowances and Subsidies to Support Talent Development in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

This English translation is for reference only. The Chinese version shall prevail in case of any inconsistencies.

Notice on Issuing the Implementation Measures on Allowances and Subsidiesto Support Talent Development in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

All relevant departments:

The Implementation Measures on Allowances and Subsidies to Support Talent Development in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has been deliberated and approved by the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and is hereby issued for implementation. Should any issues arise during implementation, please report them to the Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Economic Development Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

March 21, 2024

Normative Document No. 2/2024 of the Economic DevelopmentBureauoftheExecutiveCommittee

Implementation Measureson Allowances and Subsidies to Support Talent Development in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

Contents

Chapter I General Provisions

Chapter II Support for the Pooling and Development of Talents

Chapter III Support for the Development of Talent Platforms

Chapter IV Support for the Joint Development of Talents in Hengqin and Macao

Chapter V Procedure for Application

Chapter VI Supervision and Administration

Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions

Chapter I

General Provisions

Article 1.

Purpose of the Measures

In order to implement the Several Measures for Supporting Talent Development in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, these measures are specifically formulated to further clarify the standards and conditions of support for employers and various talents, encourage more outstanding talents to develop in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (hereinafter referred to as the “Cooperation Zone”), and thereby accelerate the construction of a high-level talent highland in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Article 2.

Scope of Applicability

These Measures shall apply to enterprises or institutions (hereinafter referred to as “employers”) that conduct substantial operations in the Cooperation Zone, and personnel who work for these employers (excluding personnel with established positions in the Party and government entities and intuitions managed with reference to the Civil Servant Law).

Article 3.

Definitions

For the purposes of these Measures, the following terms are defined as follows:

1. “High-level talents” refer to distinguished talents, leading talents, top-notch talents, and young talents as recognized in accordance with the Measures for the Recognition of High-Level Talents in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (Normative Document No. 4/2024 of the Economic Development Bureau);

2. “Macao colleges and universities” refer to institutions of higher learning approved and established according to the higher education laws and regulations of the Macao Special Administrative Region (hereinafter referred to as “Macao”), including the University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau Polytechnic University, Macao University of Tourism, City University of Macau, University of Saint Joseph, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macau Institute of Management, and Macau Millennium College;

3. “Academician workstations” refer to organizations and platforms that are established by employers engaged in substantive operations in the Cooperation Zone and with academicians and their innovation teams as the core technical personnel. These workstations are founded based on cooperation agreements signed by the employers and the academicians and their teams. These workstations are designed to address the technological needs of industrial development in the Cooperation Zone, with objectives that include jointly tackling key and common technological challenges, cultivating scientific and technological talents, and promoting the transformation and industrialization of scientific achievements;

4. “Postdoctoral scientific research workstations” refer to organizations that have undergone review by the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province and jointly approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China and the National Postdoctoral Management Committee. These workstations are eligible to recruit and train postdoctoral researchers in enterprises, research and production-oriented public institutions, and special regional institutions;

5. “Sub-stations” refer to organizations under the postdoctoral park workstations that are also eligible to recruit and train postdoctoral researchers;

6. “Postdoctoral innovation practice bases” refer to provincial postdoctoral work platforms designed and established under national approval by Guangdong Province. These bases are eligible to recruit postdoctoral researchers through research stations and are located in enterprises, research-oriented public institutions, and district, municipal, and provincial technology incubators;

7. “Doctoral workstations” refer to doctoral management and service innovation platforms established with the approval of the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province;

8. “Taxable payroll” refers to the wages and salaries, labor service remuneration, or work income as specified by the professional tax regulations of Macao, which individuals obtain from employers and on which they pay personal income tax;

9. “Macao companies with affiliated relationships with enterprises in the Cooperation Zone” refer to companies that are legally established in Macao and pay taxes according to law (including, but not limited to, complementary tax and business tax), or companies that are exempt from taxes according to law, and of which the Cooperation Zone enterprises have more than 50% direct shareholdings (excluding nominee shareholdings), or companies that have more than 50% direct shareholdings of the Cooperation Zone enterprises (excluding nominee shareholdings);

10. All amounts mentioned in these Measures are in Renminbi (RMB), and terms such as “more than”, “no(t) less than”, “at least”, “no(t) more than”, “no(t) lower than”, and “at minimum” are interpreted as inclusive of the stated value.

Chapter II

Support for the Pooling and Development of Talents

Article 4.

Living Allowance for High-Level Talents

Individuals recognized as “distinguished talents”, “leading talents”, “top-notch talents” and “young talents” are eligible for a living allowance of RMB 8 million, RMB 3 million, RMB 2 million and RMB 1.5 million respectively. The allowance will be distributed in equal annual installments over five years, with one payment per year for each individual.

Article 5.

Conditions for Applying for Living Allowance for High-Level Talents

Applicants applying for living allowance for high-level talents shall meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant must be recognized as one of the following categories: “distinguished talent”, “leading talent”, “top-notch talent”, or “young talent”, in accordance with the Measures for the Recognition of High-level Talents in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (Normative Document No. 4/2024 of the Economic Development Bureau of the Executive Committee);

2. The applicant must pay personal income tax and social insurance continuously in the Cooperation Zone. As of the conclusion date of the current allowance application, the applicant shall still be paying personal income tax and social insurance in the Cooperation Zone. Applicants who apply for this allowance for the first time shall have paid personal income tax and social insurance for at least six consecutive months.

Overseas talents who are exempt from paying social insurance in the Chinese mainland, as well as talents from the Chinese mainland who are over the statutory retirement age and unable to pay social insurance or who are unable to pay social insurance in the Cooperation Zone due to objective reasons shall provide proof of personal income tax payment.

In addition to meeting the above basic conditions, applicants for the high-level talent living allowance shall also meet one of the following conditions:

1. Employment Category

(1) The applicant shall have signed a labor contract or employment agreement with a cumulative duration of at least five years with an employer whose main business or professional field aligns with the Catalog of Encouraged Industries ofthe Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and still maintain a labor or employment relationship with an employer in the Cooperation Zone as of the conclusion date of the current allowance application.

(2) The employer shall pay annual taxable wages and salaries to “distinguished talents”, “leading talents”, “top-notch talents”, and “young talents” of no less than RMB 600,000, RMB 500,000, RMB 400,000, and RMB 300,000, respectively.

(3) The applicant shall commit to working on-site in the Cooperation Zone for at least six months each year.

2. Entrepreneurship Category

(1) The applicant shall be the ultimate controller or one of the top three shareholders of the established enterprise and work full-time in the Cooperation Zone. The applicant shall not operate as the ultimate controller or one of the top three shareholders in other enterprises outside the Cooperation Zone.

(2) The paid-in capital of the established enterprise shall meet the following requirements: for enterprises established by “distinguished talents” and “leading talents”, the paid-in capital shall be no less than RMB 3 million, with the individual’s cash contribution or combined cash and technology contribution being no less than RMB 1.5 million; for enterprises established by “top-notch talents”, the paid-in capital shall be no less than RMB 2 million, with the individual’s cash contribution or combined cash and technology contribution being no less than RMB 1 million; for enterprises established by “young talents”, the paid-in capital shall be no less than RMB 1.5 million, with the individual’s cash contribution or combined cash and technology contribution being no less than RMB 750,000.

(3) The established enterprise shall be in normal operation, with at least eight full-time employees who shall have continuously paid social insurance in the enterprise each year. First-time applicants must have paid social insurance for at least six consecutive months.

(4) The applicant shall commit that from the date of the first allowance being received, the established enterprise will not relocate out of the Cooperation Zone, change its liability to tax in the Cooperation Zone, or reduce its actual monetary contribution for ten years, otherwise the allowances received shall be returned.

Article 6.

Explanatory Notes on Living Allowance for High-Level Talents

Applicants who have already benefited from subsidized housing in the Cooperation Zone shall not concurrently receive the living allowance for high-level talents.

In cases where both spouses are recognized as high-level talents, only one spouse is eligible to apply for the allowance.

In accordance with the principle of “prioritizing the higher allowance without duplication”, any previous similar subsidies received from the Cooperation Zone must be deducted when applying for the living allowance for high-level talents.

Article 7.

Education Subsidy for Children of High-Level Talents

Priority will be given, in accordance with relevant regulations, to ensure public preschool and compulsory education for children of high-level talents in the Cooperation Zone. For those who choose to study in non-public schools in the Cooperation Zone or non-free schools in Macao, a one-off subsidy of 30% of the total tuition fee paid up to junior high school education (including) may be granted on a per-household basis, with a maximum amount of RMB 300,000.

Article 8.

Conditions for Applying for Education Subsidy for Children of High-Level Talents

Applicants for the education subsidy for children of high-level talents shall be subject to the provisions of Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2, Article 5.

Applicants shall apply for the education subsidy after their children have attended a non-public school in the Cooperation Zone or a non-free school in Macao for one full academic year.

Article 9.

Living Allowance for Talents with Formal Higher Education and Technical Professionals

Personnel recruited by employers in the Cooperation Zone with doctor’s degrees (or associate senior or higher professional technical qualifications), master’s degrees (or intermediate professional technical qualifications), and bachelor’s degrees (or assistant professional technical qualifications) may be granted a living allowance of RMB 270,000, RMB 90,000, and RMB 60,000 respectively per person, distributed evenly over three years.

Article 10.

Conditions for Applying for Living Allowance for Talents with Formal Higher Education and Technical Professionals

Applicants applying for living allowance for talents with formal higher education and technical professionals shall meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant shall possess a bachelor’s degree or higher from a national college, or a bachelor’s degree or higher from outside the Chinese mainland and certified by the Ministry of Education, or have at least assistant professional technical qualifications. Among these, the bachelor’s degree shall be obtained through full-time education.

2. Personnel recruited with doctor’s degrees (or associate senior or above professional technical qualifications) should be no more than fifty years old, master’s degrees (or intermediate professional technical qualifications) no more than forty-five years old, and bachelor’s degrees (or assistant professional technical qualifications) no more than forty years old, with the date of the first payment of social insurance in the Cooperation Zone as the reference point for age calculation.

3. The applicant shall have signed a labor contract with an employer in the Cooperation Zone, with a cumulative duration of at least three years. As of the conclusion date of the current allowance application, the applicant shall still maintain a labor relation with an employer in the Cooperation Zone.

4. The applicant must pay personal income tax and social insurance continuously in the Cooperation Zone. As of the conclusion date of the current allowance application, the applicant shall still be paying personal income tax and social insurance in the Cooperation Zone.

First-time applicants of this allowance shall have paid personal income tax and social insurance for at least six consecutive months; second-time applicants for at least twenty-four consecutive months; third-time applicants for at least thirty-six consecutive months.

Overseas talents exempt from paying social insurance on the Chinese mainland, or talents from the Chinese mainland who have not paid social insurance in the Cooperation Zone due to objective reasons shall provide proof of personal income tax payment.

Article 11.

Explanatory Notes on Applying for Living Allowance for Talents with Formal Higher Education and Technical Professionals

Eligible applicants shall submit their initial allowance application within two years from the date of issuance of these Measures, in accordance with the specified requirements; for those recruited after the issuance of these Measures, the initial allowance application shall be submitted within three years from the date of their first social insurance payment in the Cooperation Zone. Those who fail to apply for the allowance will be deemed to have automatically waived their eligibility.

Applicants who have interrupted their social insurance payments due to a change of employers are permitted to have a cumulative interruption of no more than three months. For those who have interrupted their social insurance payments, the application for the second allowance requires a cumulative payment of personal income tax and social insurance for at least twenty-four months; the application for the third allowance requires a cumulative payment of personal income tax and social insurance for at least thirty-six months.

Applicants who have not fully claimed the allowances under the Interim Measures on Rental Housing and Living Subsidies for Talents Introduced to Hengqin New Area (No. 18 [2019] of the Office of the Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee) may apply for the second and third allowances in accordance with the provisions of these Measures; those who have fully claimed the allowances are not eligible to reapply.

Applicants who have already benefited from subsidized housing in the cooperation zone shall not concurrently receive the living allowance for talents with formal education and technical professionals.

Article 12.

Living Allowance for Postdoctoral Researchers

Any postdoctoral researcher who works in a postdoctoral scientific research workstation, a sub-station or an innovation practice base of the Cooperation Zone may be granted a living allowance of RMB 400,000 per year for two consecutive years, with one payment per quarter.

On-job postdoctoral researchers who postpone leaving the stations for their commitment to major national projects with funds from National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Social Science Fund of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, and other foundations, may be granted a one-off living allowance of RMB 100,000 in the third year.

Postdoctoral researchers who stay in (or come to) the Cooperation Zone to start a business (or work) may be granted a living allowance of RMB 120,000 per year for five consecutive years.

Article 13.

Conditions for Applying for Living Allowance for On-job Postdoctoral Researchers

For on-job postdoctoral researchers to apply for a living allowance, their host institution shall meet the following conditions:

1. The institution shall be in normal operation, with comprehensive management and assessment systems for postdoctoral researchers, and shall conduct regular attendance management of the postdoctoral researchers.

2. The institution shall sign a research plan agreement with the incoming postdoctoral researcher. The agreement shall ensure that the research field in the plan aligns with the direction of industrial development in the Cooperation Zone and includes clear work objectives, project requirements, and research tasks.

3. The institution shall sign a labor contract with the incoming postdoctoral researcher and pay an annual taxable payroll of no less than 80% of the daily funding standard for on-job postdoctoral researchers in Guangdong Province.

4. The institution shall enter into a recruitment agreement or training agreement with the incoming postdoctoral researcher, which shall include, but not be limited to, the duration of research, training conditions, and conditions for completion.

On-job postdoctoral researchers applying for living allowance shall meet all of the following conditions:

1. The applicant shall have obtained a doctoral degree from a national higher education institution, or a doctoral degree certified by the Ministry of Education from institutions outside the Chinese mainland.

3. The applicant shall complete each stage of the research tasks as scheduled. A research proposal confirmation shall be conducted three months after entry and a midterm assessment shall be conducted one year after entry, with any postponement not exceeding three months. The research proposal, midterm report, and completion report shall include, but not be limited to, the project name, anticipated outcomes, and achieved results.

4. The applicant shall not have any other circumstances that do not comply with the Cooperation Zone, Guangdong Province, or national regulations for the management of postdoctoral researchers.

Article 14.

Conditions for Applying for Living Allowance for Former Postdoctoral Researchers

Former postdoctoral researchers who has completed their research work in the stations and are applying for living allowance shall meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant shall be no older than forty-five years of age at the time of their arrival or stay in the Cooperation Zone, with the date of the first payment of social insurance upon arrival or during their stay in the Cooperation Zone after completing their research work as the reference point for age calculation.

2. The applicant shall have continuously paid personal income tax and social insurance in the Cooperation Zone. As of the conclusion date of the current allowance application, the applicant shall still be paying personal income tax and social insurance in the Cooperation Zone. First-time applicants of this allowance shall have paid personal income tax and social insurance for at least six consecutive months.

In addition to meeting the basic conditions, former postdoctoral researchers applying for living allowance shall also meet one of the following conditions:

1. Employment Category

The applicant shall have entered into a labor contract with an employer whose main business or professional field aligns with the Catalog of Encouraged Industries ofthe Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, with a cumulative duration of at least three years. As of the conclusion date of the current allowance application, the applicant shall still maintain a labor relation with an employer in the Cooperation Zone.

2. Entrepreneurship Category

(1) The established enterprise shall be registered in the Cooperation Zone, with the applicant holding at least 25% of the shares at the time of registration; or, at the time of each application, the applicant must hold a combined share of at least 15% after the latest round of financing prior to each application.

(2) The established enterprise shall be in normal operation and conduct substantial operations in the Cooperation Zone. The enterprise shall have at least five full-time employees who shall have continuously paid social insurance in the enterprise each year. First-time applicants must have paid social insurance for at least six consecutive months.

Article 15.

Living Allowance for Skilled Talents

Support shall be provided to the Cooperation Zone to recruit skilled talents whose expertise or abilities are in line with the direction of industrial development. A living allowance may be granted evenly over two years to skilled talents with national vocational qualifications and are engaged in the corresponding occupations, with RMB 60,000 to each senior technician (Grade-1), RMB 30,000 to each technician (Grade-2), and RMB 20,000 to each senior worker (Grade-3).

Article 16.

Conditions for Applying for Living Allowance for Skilled Talents

Applicants applying for living allowance for skilled talents shall meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant shall possess national vocational qualifications at the level of senior technician (Grade-1), technician (Grade-2), or senior worker (Grade-3).

2. The applicant shall be engaged in a profession or trade that corresponds to their vocational qualification, and the employer’s main business shall align with the Catalog of Encouraged Industries ofthe Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

3. Recruited senior technicians (Grade-1) shall be no older than fifty years of age, technicians (Grade-2) no older than forty-five years of age, and senior workers (Grade-3) no older than forty years of age, with the date of the first payment of social insurance in the Cooperation Zone as the reference point for age calculation.

4. The applicant shall have signed a labor contract with an employer in the Cooperation Zone, with a cumulative duration of at least two years. As of the conclusion date of the current allowance application, the applicant shall still maintain a labor relation with an employer in the Cooperation Zone.

5. The applicant shall have continuously paid personal income tax and social insurance in the Cooperation Zone. As of the conclusion date of the current allowance application, the applicant shall still be paying personal income tax and social insurance in the Cooperation Zone.

Article 17.

Explanatory Notes on Applying for Living Allowance for Skilled Talents

Eligible applicants shall submit their initial allowance application within two years from the date of issuance of these Measures, in accordance with the specified requirements; for those recruited after the issuance of these Measures, the initial allowance application shall be submitted within two years from the date of their first social insurance payment in the Cooperation Zone. Those who fail to apply for the allowance will be deemed to have automatically waived their eligibility.

Applicants who have not fully claimed the allowances under theInterim Measures on Rental Housing and Living Subsidies for Talents Introduced to Hengqin New Area (No. 18 [2019] of the Office of the Hengqin New Area Administrative Committee) may apply for the second allowance in accordance with the regulations of these Measures; those who have fully claimed the allowances are not eligible to reapply.

Applicants who have already benefited from subsidized housing in the Cooperation Zone shall not concurrently receive the living allowance for skilled talents.

Article 18.

Subsidy for the Academic Certificate Upgrade of Young Employees in the Industry

Support shall be provided to young employees who work in key industries of the Cooperation Zone to continue their studies without leaving their working positions. Young employees who have applied for programs of integrated circuits, biomedicine, artificial intelligence and other majors in colleges and universities in Macao and obtained doctoral degrees may be offered a subsidy of 30% of the total tuition fee, with a maximum amount of RMB 150,000.

The scope of the tuition subsidy is limited to the course fees within the normal duration of study. The tuition subsidy is granted evenly over two years, with one payment per year for each individual.

Article 19.

Conditions for Applying for Subsidy for the Academic Certificate Upgrade of Young Employees in Key Industries

Applicants applying for subsidy for the academic certificate upgrade of young employees in key industries shall meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant shall be no older than fifty years of age, with the graduation date as the reference point for age calculation.

2. The applicant shall have applied for programs of integrated circuits, biomedicine, artificial intelligence and other majors in colleges and universities in Macao after January 1, 2021. The professional field shall align with areas of scientific and technological research and high-end manufacturing industries, traditional Chinese medicine, and other Macao branded industries in the Catalog of Encouraged Industries ofthe Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. As of the conclusion date of the application, the applicant shall have obtained graduation certification materials and had the academic degree certified by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange.

3. The applicant shall maintain a continuous labor relation with employers in the Cooperation Zone from the time of enrollment until the conclusion date of the current subsidy application.

4. The applicant shall have continuously paid personal income tax and social insurance in the Cooperation Zone. As of the conclusion date of the current subsidy application, the applicant shall still be paying personal income tax and social insurance in the Cooperation Zone.

Chapter III

Support for the Development of Talent Platforms

Article 20.

Support for the Establishment of Academician Workstations

Support shall be provided to employers in the Cooperation Zone to establish academician workstations, and a one-off fund of up to RMB 1.5 million shall be granted to employers that set up academician workstations for the first time in accordance with the following criteria:

1. A grant of RMB 1.5 million will be provided for workstations that involve cooperation agreements with at least three academicians.

2. A grant of RMB 1 million will be provided for workstations that involve cooperation agreements with two academicians.

3. A grant of RMB 800,000 will be provided for workstations that involve a cooperation agreement with one academician.

Article 21.

Criteria for the Recognition of Academician Workstations

To establish an academician workstation, employers in the Cooperation Zone shall meet the following conditions:

1. The academician workstation shall conduct substantive operation in the Cooperation Zone for at least one year, have the status of an independent legal entity, maintain good operation or management, and be equipped with the space, equipment, technologies, and teams necessary for scientific research activities.

2. A close cooperative relationship shall have been established with at least one academician, supported by a signed collaborative research agreement (the period of validity of the agreement shall cover the establishment period). If the cooperation involves two or more academicians, separate agreements shall be signed with each. Matters such as service time and the means of cooperation shall be agreed upon with the academicians in order to jointly carry out technological innovation activities.

3. The cooperation shall be based on clearly defined and substantive research topics and development content, with stable financial support in place.

4. The research direction of the academician team shall be in line with the needs of industrial development in the Cooperation Zone and be able to provide crucial support for the urgently required and key core technologies for the industrial development in the Cooperation Zone.

Article 22.

Procedure for the Recognition of Academician Workstations

The recognition of academician workstations follows procedures below:

1. Qualification Review. The employer shall submit relevant materials within the specified time for appraisal. The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will conduct a formal review of the application eligibility and the submitted materials.

2. Comprehensive Appraisal. The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will commission a third-party professional agency to review the application materials.

3. Public Announcement. After the review, the proposed academician workstations will be publicly announced for a period of five working days.

4. Recognition. If no objections are raised during the public announcement period or if objections are found to be unsubstantiated upon investigation, the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will disburse the funds in accordance with the regulations.

5. Plaque Award. Upon recognition, the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will present a plaque to the academician workstation, valid for three years.

Article 23.

Explanatory Notes on Applying for Support for the Establishment of Academician Workstations

The fund for the establishment of academician workstations is intended for subsidies related to scientific research and capacity building, and shall be managed and utilized by the employer under a separate account.

The period of validity of academician workstations is three years. Within the validity period, each academician or each entity establishing the workstation can receive funding for only one academician workstation.

For academician workstations in Guangdong Province that are initially recognized by the provincial science and technology authorities, funding shall be provided according to the same standards as those in the Cooperation Zone.

An entity establishing entity can only receive funding once, either under the name of a provincial or a Cooperation Zone academician workstation.

Article 24.

Support for the Establishment of Doctoral and Postdoctoral Workstations (Sub-stations and Bases)

The newly-established postdoctoral scientific research workstations, sub-stations, innovation practice bases and doctoral workstations may be subsidized of RMB 1 million, RMB 700,000, RMB 500,000 and RMB 500,000, respectively.

The postdoctoral stations may be granted a subsidy of RMB 50,000 each time for recruiting a post-doctoral researcher.

Article 25.

Conditions for Applying for Support for the Establishment of Doctoral and Postdoctoral Workstations (Sub-stations and Bases)

To apply for the support for the establishment of doctoral and postdoctoral workstations (sub-stations and bases), the station shall meet the following conditions:

1. The station shall be newly established with approval from the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the National Postdoctoral Management Committee.

2. The entity establishing the postdoctoral workstation shall initiate the application process after the postdoctoral researchers have entered the station.

Article 26.

Explanatory Notes on Applying for Support for the Establishment of Doctoral and Postdoctoral Workstations (Sub-stations and Bases)

Employers that establish bases with multiple research stations shall only enjoy the subsidy once. For innovation practice bases that are converted into scientific research workstations (or sub-stations), and for sub-stations that are upgraded to workstations, the difference shall be subsidized according to the corresponding standards.

The establishing entity shall develop and improve assessment and management systems, record the subsidy in the entity’s financial account for unified management, conduct independent accounting, and ensure that the subsidy is used for its designated purposes. At the end of the year, the entity shall conduct a financial settlement and proactively report the usage and effectiveness of the subsidy to the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone.

The subsidy for the establishment of doctoral and postdoctoral workstations (sub-stations, bases) shall primarily be used for the construction of office premises for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, the acquisition of facilities and equipment, disbursements for research projects, regular management costs, and expenses related to hiring academic supervisors and experts. The expenditures include office facilities and equipment costs, scientific research instruments and equipment costs, experimental material costs, costs related to literature collection, information dissemination, and intellectual property, conference fees, travel expenses, consultancy fees, expert review fees, service fees, lecture fees, intellectual property costs, and international cooperation and exchange fees, among others.

The subsidy for newly recruited postdoctoral researchers shall primarily be used for expenses related to the recruitment of postdoctoral talents. The expenditures include service fees and publicity expenses for talent recruitment agencies, travel expenses for overseas recruitment, talent recruitment incentives, regular management costs for postdoctoral researchers, expert guidance fees, academic exchange expenses, as well as social insurance, travelling allowance, housing provident fund, rent, and other individual costs incurred by the postdoctoral researchers.

Article 27.

Support for Flexible Talent Recruitment

Support shall be provided to employers in the Cooperation Zone to flexibly use international talents and intellectual resources through short-term services, consulting and other means, and to carry out such innovative activities as technological research and development and the transfer and commercialization of research achievements. Employers who recruit overseas high-level talents to work in the Cooperation Zone or Macao for a total of more than 60 days may be granted a subsidy of 30% of their actually taxable labor remuneration paid, with a maximum amount of RMB 2 million per year per employer.

Article 28.

Conditions for Applying for Support for Flexible Talent Recruitment

To apply for support for flexible talent recruitment, both employers and flexibly recruited talents shall meet the all of the following conditions, respectively.

Employers shall meet the following conditions:

1. The flexibly recruited talents shall be associated with specific technological innovation projects, such as projects that address key core technological challenges in the industry, innovation platform building, projects of research and development and the transfer and commercialization of research achievements, or winning projects of innovation and entrepreneurship competitions.

2. The flexibly recruited talents shall be the project leaders or main participants, playing a crucial role in advancing technological innovation, conducting project research, and addressing scientific and technological challenges of the cooperation projects.

3. Employers shall sign a cooperation agreement with the flexibly recruited talents, and the actual taxable labor remunerations that employers pay to the talents upon project completion shall be no less than RMB 100,000.

4. Employers shall conduct regular management of the flexibly recruited talents, and retain certification materials verifying their working hours in the Cooperation Zone or Macao.

5. The cooperation projects shall be successfully concluded, pass the acceptance review, and achieve substantial results with good application prospects or market value.

6. Employers shall have no subsidiary or associative relationship with the full-time workplace of the flexibly recruited talents.

Flexibly recruited talents shall meet the following conditions:

1. The talents shall be of eminence in their professional fields domestically and/or internationally, and possess cutting-edge technologies recognized within the industry.

2. The areas of study or disciplinary directions of the talents shall be in line with the needs of industrial development in the Cooperation Zone, and be able to provide crucial support for the urgently required and key core technologies for the industrial development in the Cooperation Zone.

3. The professionalism and social influence of the talents shall not be lower than those specified in the Classification Standards for High-Level Talents in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

4. The talents shall work in the Cooperation Zone or Macao for more than 60 days during the operational period of the projects.

5. The talents shall not have any other circumstances prohibited by laws or regulations that restrict their mobility.

Article 29.

Support for Talent Recruitment by Market Entities

Support shall be provided to maximize the leading role of employers in human resources allocation. Employers that actively recruit high-level talents and have applied for national or Guangdong major talent programs through the Cooperation Zone may be granted a subsidy of RMB 30,000 per person for the national talent programs, and RMB 20,000 per person for the Guangdong talent programs.

The same talent program of the same employer and in the same batch of applications may be granted a subsidy of up to RMB 300,000 for the national talent programs, and RMB 200,000 for the Guangdong talent programs.

The same employer that applies for subsidy in the same year may be granted a cumulative maximum of RMB 600,000.

Talents who are selected in the official list may be granted supporting subsidies equal to the living allowances issued by the review entities of the national or Guangdong talent programs.

Employers that are selected as platforms of talent development may be granted supporting subsidies for each person accounting for 30% and 20% of the living allowances issued by the review entities of the national and Guangdong talent programs respectively.

Article 30.

Conditions for Applying for Support for Talent Recruitment by Market Entities

To apply for support, employers shall meet the following conditions:

1. Employers shall be enterprises or institutions that are legally registered in the Cooperation Zone with the status of an independent legal entity.

2. Employers shall have recruited high-level talents and have applied for national or Guangdong major talent programs through the Cooperation Zone.

3. Employers shall submit valid applications in accordance with the requirements of national or Guangdong major talent programs.

To apply for supporting subsidies for talent programs, the talents shall meet the following conditions:

1. The talents shall be selected in the official list of the national or Guangdong talent programs.

2. The talents selected in the official list shall have received living allowances issued by the review entities of the talent programs.

3. To apply for subsidies, the selected talents must be employed by employers that are legally registered in the Cooperation Zone as independent legal entities and maintain a labor relation with them.

Article 31.

Explanatory Notes on Applying for Support for Talent Recruitment by Market Entities

Support for talent recruitment by market entities operates on a “no-application-required” basis. The employers and selected talents do not need to apply. The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will formulate the plan of subsidy or supporting subsidies and make a one-off payment after the approval process.

The supporting subsidies for selected talents will be transferred to their employers first, who will then transfer the subsidies to the talents’ personal accounts.

If employers and selected talents are found to have living allowances revoked by the review entities of the talent programs, engaged in academic fraud to obtain funds, or been involved in other circumstances that disqualify them from receiving the subsidy, the funds received must be returned. In serious cases, legal liability shall be incurred.

The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will verify the receipt of subsidy in the accounts of employers and talents in an appropriate manner.

Applications initiated after January 1, 2021, may receive supporting subsidies in accordance with these Measures.

Talents selected in the official list of Guangdong talent programs, which are independently reviewed and fully funded by the Cooperation Zone, are not eligible for the supporting subsidies.

Chapter IV

Support for the Joint Development of Talents in Hengqin and Macao

Article 32.

Joint Support for Macao’s Talent Recruitment

Support shall be provided to Macao companies with affiliated relationships with enterprises in the Cooperation Zone to implement the plan for the recruitment of talents. Employers that recruit “high-end talents” and “outstanding talents” in accordance with Macao’s Law No.7/2023 “The Legal System for Talent Recruitment”, and whose talents have worked in Macao and the Cooperation Zone for six months or more each year may be subsidized of 30% of their actual taxable payroll, with a maximum amount of RMB 3 million per year per employer.

Article 33.

Conditions for Applying for Joint Support for Macao’s Talent Recruitment

To apply for joint support for Macao’s talent recruitment, employers shall meet the following conditions:

1. Talents recruited by employers shall be individuals defined as “high-end talents” and “outstanding talents” under Article 3 of Macao’s Law No.7/2023 “The Legal System for Talent Recruitment” and must have been approved for residence permits and tax benefits in accordance with the legal system.

2. Employers (enterprises in the Cooperation Zone or affiliated companies in Macao) shall sign a labor contract or employment agreement with the recruited talents. As of the conclusion date of the subsidy application, the employers shall still maintain a labor relation with the recruited talents and also meet one of the following conditions:

(1) For talents with labor relations in an enterprise in the Cooperation Zone, the employers shall have paid personal income tax and social insurance for the talents in the Cooperation Zone for at least six consecutive months as of the conclusion date of the subsidy application. For overseas talents exempt from paying social insurance on the Chinese mainland, or talents from the Chinese mainland who are over the statutory retirement age and unable to pay social insurance, only proof of continuous payment of personal income tax shall be required.

(2) For talents with labor relations in an affiliated company in Macao, the employer shall have paid professional tax for the talent in Macao for at least six consecutive months as of the conclusion date of the subsidy application, and such talents shall work in the Cooperation Zone for more than two months annually.

The employers shall conduct regular management of the recruited talents, and for talents with labor relations in an affiliated company in Macao, certification materials shall be retained to verify their working hours in the Cooperation Zone.

Article 34.

Explanatory Notes on Applying for Joint Support for Macao’s Talent Recruitment

Applications for subsidies under this provision are limited to employers in the Cooperation Zone and Macao that are recruiting “high-end talents” and “outstanding talents” for the first time.

For affiliated companies in Macao, the subsidy shall be applied for and received on their behalf by the connected or associated enterprises in the Cooperation Zone.

Article 35.

Subsidies for Joint Talent Training between Macao and Hengqin

Postdoctoral supervisors from colleges and universities in Macao who provide guidance for postdoctoral stations in the Cooperation Zone may be granted a living allowance of RMB 20,000 for each postdoctoral student supervised, subject to a maximum amount of RMB 60,000 per person per year. Each station is eligible for applying the subsidies for up to ten supervisors per year.

Postdoctoral and doctoral researchers from colleges and universities in Macao who are temporarily appointed to the Cooperation Zone to carry out technological research and transfer of research achievements may be granted a living allowance of RMB 5,000 and RMB 4,000 per person per month respectively, for a period of no more than six months. The total allowance shall be paid in a lump sum after the temporary appointment. For multiple appointments, only one application is allowed.

Article 36.

Conditions for Applying for Subsidies for Joint Talent Training between Macao and Hengqin

To apply for the postdoctoral supervisor living allowance, applicants shall meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant shall be serving as a doctoral supervisor at a college or university in Macao.

2. The applicant shall have chaired at least one research project above the provincial level and have experience in guiding at least one cohort of doctoral students to graduation.

3. The applicant shall have signed a formal cooperation agreement with the postdoctoral station in the Cooperation Zone, recruited postdoctoral researchers, and provided necessary support on scientific research, technical training, and platform resources.

To apply for doctoral and postdoctoral living allowances, applicants shall meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant shall be a postdoctoral researcher or a doctoral student currently enrolled at a college or university in Macao.

2. The applicant shall conduct scientific research or achievement transformation based on an employer in the Cooperation Zone that is in normal operation and has clear needs of technological research and development. The employer’s main business or professional field shall align with the Catalog of Encouraged Industries ofthe Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

3. Upon the completion of the appointment, the employer shall provide a project completion report or internship certificate, as well as necessary certification materials to verify the applicant’s working hours in the Cooperation Zone.

4. There shall be no connections or associations between the applicant and the employer, or between the applicant’s supervisor and the employer.

5. During the coverage period of this subsidy, the applicant shall work in the Cooperation Zone for at least fifteen working days each month.

6. The applicant shall be no older than forty years of age, with the first month of appointment to the Cooperation Zone as the reference point for age calculation.

Article 37.

Subsidies for Cross-Border Practice of Professionals from Macao

Professionals from Macao who work full-time in the Cooperation Zone and provide professional services such as finance, accounting, taxation, law, medical care and education with practicing qualifications in the corresponding lists and catalogs may be granted a one-off subsidy of RMB 30,000.

Those with more than one practicing qualification may be granted a subsidy of up to RMB 60,000.

Article 38.

Conditions for Applying for Subsidies for Cross-Border Practice of Professionals from Macao

To apply for subsidies for cross-border practice of professionals from Macao, applicants shall meet the following conditions:

1. The applicant must be a Macao resident.

2. The applicant shall have signed a labor contract with an employer in the Cooperation Zone for a duration of at least one year. As of the conclusion date of the allowance application, the applicant shall still maintain a labor relation with an employer in the Cooperation Zone.

3. The applicant shall have paid personal income tax for at least six consecutive months in the Cooperation Zone. As of the conclusion date of the subsidy application, still be paying personal income tax in the Cooperation Zone.

4. The practicing qualifications obtained by the applicant shall align with the corresponding lists and catalogs of the Cooperation Zone. The corresponding lists and catalogs are dynamically released according to the actual needs of the Cooperation Zone, as outlined in the annual application guidelines.

Chapter V

Procedure for Application

Article 39.

Application Procedures

The general application procedures are as follows:

1. Application. These Measures operate on a basis of voluntary application and strict review. The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone is responsible for issuing the application guidelines and organizing the application process. The application guidelines are publicly released on the official website of the Executive Committee. Applicants shall submit the required documents within the validity period of the application as specified in the guidelines; late submissions will not be accepted.

2. Review. The Economic Development Bureau will invite experts or commission a third-party professional agency to review the application materials.

3. Public Announcement. The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone will publicly announce the list of applicants who have passed the review as needed for a period of five working days.

4. Disbursement. If no objections are raised during the public announcement period or if objections are found to be unsubstantiated upon investigation, the Economic Development Bureau will disburse the funds in accordance with the regulations.

Article 40.

Application Instructions

Applicants and employers shall provide truthful and accurate application materials and are responsible for the truthfulness and correctness of the materials. Applicants who engage in unlawful activities, false applications, or are listed on the List of Dishonest Judgment Debtors are not eligible to apply for the supports specified in these Measures.

Except as otherwise specified by laws and regulations, applicants may enjoy the supports of these Measures while also applying for other national or Guangdong provincial policy support and incentives, unless such support or incentives are borne or supported by the Cooperation Zone’s finances.

In cases where these Measures overlap or conflict with other policies issued by the Cooperation Zone or with requirements from higher authorities that involve financial obligations or supporting funds from the Cooperation Zone, applicants may choose the most favorable option under the principle of “prioritizing the higher allowance without duplication”, unless otherwise specified in these Measures.

Chapter VI

Supervision and Administration

Article 41.

Source of Funds

Funds required for these Measures will be managed through budget control and allocated annually from the special funds budget of the Cooperation Zone. The subsidies received by applicants and employers are subject to taxation in accordance with the law.

Article 42.

Legal Liability

Any employers who provide false application materials will be disqualified from applying for relevant supports and subsidies. If the subsidies have already been granted, they will be reclaimed; if illegal or criminal activities are suspected, legal liability will be pursued accordingly.

Applicants who provide false application materials or engage in dishonest behavior or fail to pay taxes in accordance with the law will have their eligibility to apply for relevant supports and subsidies under these Measures revoked. The subsidy already received will be recovered; if unlawful activities are suspected, legal liability will be pursued accordingly.

Chapter VII

Supplementary Provisions

Article 43.

Right of Interpretation

The Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone reserves the right to interpret these Measures.

Article 44.

Effective Date and Validity Period

These Measures shall come into force on April 1, 2024, and remain in force until December 31, 2025.

Those eligible for support under these Measures after January 1, 2023 may apply in accordance with the regulations stated herein.

For projects involving continuous subsidies, if subsidies have already been applied for within the validity period of these Measures, the remaining subsidies may be applied for according to the subsequent annual application guidelines, provided the conditions are met after the expiration of the validity period.

The Measures for the Administration of Postdoctoral Programs in the Hengqin New Area shall no longer be referred to for application.