Xuhui’s Call for Global Talent: A Hub of Innovation and Growth

Shen Feng started his own business in a small basement in Silicon Valley over ten years ago. Now, he’s in Shanghai for his second start-up. He’s an associate professor at Jiao Tong University and won the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Xuhui District. He and his team developed a microfluidic biochip for quick drug allergy detection, which can save a lot of time in hospitals. His story was well-received at the 2023 Talent Summit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Xuhui. The event, now in its fourth year, attracted talented individuals from over 20 domestic and international universities. Nearly 10,000 high-paying job positions were announced at the event to attract professionals from around the world. Cao Liqiang, the Party secretary of Xuhui, expressed the district’s eagerness for talent and its commitment to nurturing and serving talent. To support talented individuals settling in Xuhui, the district launched the Talent Settlement Service Platform at the summit. This platform, backed by the city’s big data center and affordable housing authority, allows users to explore rental housing projects and available apartments via a mobile phone. Xuhui also introduced the city’s first high-level talent community service centers and released its high-level talent service handbook. The AI Foundation Model Talent Alliance was established in Xuhui to attract global talent and expedite the application of large models in various industries. Xuhui is positioning itself as a prominent player in foundation model technology, focusing on algorithm, computing power, and data. MiniMax, one of the first domestic organizations and firms on foundation models, is among the enterprises leading the charge. The government’s guidance has been crucial in allowing foundation model enterprises to focus on research and development, making foundation models more accessible and useful for the public. The summit also featured the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, where six winners emerged in the innovation category and nine in the entrepreneurship category. Shen, the winner, shared his journey of returning to his homeland and expressed his excitement about co-creating the future in Shanghai and Xuhui.