Municipality makes life easier for foreign talent

Shanghai issued 13 measures on Friday to improve services for overseas talent attracted to the city.

The measures, unveiled at the Fourth Shanghai Talent+ Summit, include streamlined procedures for obtaining visas, residence permits, permanent residency, work permits and financial services. For example, those who possess doctorates and others deemed to be outstanding foreign talent will benefit from streamlined procedures when applying for permanent residency.

An official surnamed Liu, who is in charge of services for foreign experts at the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Talent Work, said that everyone from overseas who worked in Shanghai used to have to go to two different government departments to apply for a foreigner's work permit and a residence permit.

Liu said the two services were combined at one window several years ago for category A talent, and that will now be extended to all talent from overseas.

Category A talent includes those who are employed by world-leading companies and research institutions, laureates of international prizes, those who possess innovative technological inventions or patents, and postdoctoral fellows below the age 40.

The new measures will also optimize services for expat talent in scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship, medical care, travel and online and social integration.

At the summit, people from across Shanghai presented business plans in a contest designed to highlight their innovation and entrepreneurship. A section for expats was included for the first time this year.

"Shanghai is a role model in inspiring entrepreneurs from home and abroad to put their business plans into reality in a positive and speedy way," said Benoit Dubuis, president of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences and also director of the Sino-Swiss Institute of Advanced Technology at Shanghai University, which is promoting the integration of some cutting-edge disciplines, including microelectronics, biomedicine and artificial intelligence.

"Many businesses launched by expats in Shanghai increase investment or invest in other entrepreneurial projects if they succeed," Dubuis said. "This part is critical to the development of the local business environment."