QM / HJ / HY · PROGRAM COMPARISON
QM, HJ or HY?Choose your path in China.
The Qiming (QM) Program, Huoju (HJ) Talent Program and Overseas Young Scientists (HY) pathway support different career directions. Start with the work you want to do: industry R&D, institutional research or independent academic research.
01 / CHOOSE A DIRECTION
Where would you like to do your work?
Start with the work, host environment and career goals that fit your background.
Industry R&D & technology transfer
Explore the QM Program if you want to apply specialist expertise to product development, engineering challenges or commercialization. Founders can also investigate the entrepreneurship track.
The company's technical needs, R&D resources and applicable nomination channel.
Research platforms & priority projects
Explore the HJ Program if you want to work on research or critical technologies within a laboratory, research institute or similar platform.
The host's actual eligibility, role responsibilities and fit with your research.
Independent research & academic growth
Explore HY if you want to build an independent research direction at a university or research institution and meet the early-career researcher requirements.
The annual birth-date cutoff, post-PhD overseas employment, return date and host eligibility.
02 / COMPARE THE REQUIREMENTS
Compare the host, your profile and the funding
Compare the three pathways across host institutions, age and appointments, overseas experience, return arrangements, funding and platform support.
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to compare all three
| What to compare | QMQiming (QM) Program | HJHuoju (HJ) Talent Program | HYOverseas Young Scientists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host institution | Primarily company R&D platforms. If you are interested in a university under MIIT, discuss the relevant program category and application channel with that institution. | Explore national and local key laboratories and similar research platforms. Discuss nomination channels, roles and application arrangements with their host institutions. | Commonly universities and research institutes. Apply through an NSFC-registered or approved host, with an employment contract or agreement of intent. |
| Age & appointment | PhD holders aged 40 or below, including exactly 40, can start by exploring the youth track. Those with overseas associate-professor-level or senior industry experience can explore innovation. Age is calculated using the date specified in the application notice. | Focuses on overseas associate-professor-level or senior industry experience, alongside degree, age, responsibilities and research achievements. | For 2026: born on or after 1 January 1986, with a PhD and peer-recognized research or technical achievements. |
| Overseas experience | The youth pathway typically considers at least three consecutive years of formal overseas employment. Overseas PhD holders with strong achievements can explore experience relaxation under the relevant track rules. | Set out overseas employment dates, full-time status, responsibilities and representative achievements, showing your individual contribution to research or R&D tasks. | For 2026: generally at least 36 consecutive months in a formal overseas teaching or research position after the PhD, by 15 June. Overseas PhD holders with exceptional achievements may qualify for a relaxation. |
| Return & commitment | Youth, innovation and entrepreneurship have their own return and attendance arrangements. Discuss the employment relationship, return plan and service period for your chosen track. | Discuss the return window, full-time commitment and service period with the prospective host, alongside your existing overseas contract. | For 2026: not yet returned, or returned to work in China after 1 January 2025. Following an award notice, resign from overseas employment and work full-time in China for at least three years. |
| Funding purpose | Support packages may include RMB 500,000 in living support for youth or RMB 1 million for innovation and entrepreneurship, alongside local and settlement support. Funding categories and payment arrangements depend on the destination city. | Support packages may include RMB 1 million in living support and RMB 3 million in research funding, used for living costs and research respectively. Local and settlement support depend on the destination city. | Official 2026 guide: RMB 1–3 million in research-project funding over three years. Local or employer salary and settlement support are arranged separately. |
| Priority discussion | R&D tasks, commercialization resources, your contribution, team support and the applicable youth, innovation or entrepreneurship track. | Research tasks, facilities, team resources, ownership of results, assessment requirements and the actual application channel. | Research autonomy, start-up resources, role, team support and restrictions on other applications. The 2026 round closed on 15 June. |
Considering the Qiming Plan? Explore the QM tracks.
Youth, innovation and entrepreneurship suit different career stages. Consider your research, appointments and business experience when choosing a direction.
Youth
A PhD holder in the earlier stages of a research or technology career.
Applicants aged 40 or below, including exactly 40, can start preparing for this direction. Focus on continuous formal overseas employment and representative work. The age reference date and any experience relaxation follow the relevant application rules.
Innovation
An established researcher or specialist with critical technology expertise or senior appointments.
Explain your appointment level, responsibilities and individual contribution, and how these address a prospective company's needs. Applicants over 40 can start here with a review of their appointments and achievements.
Entrepreneurship
A founder with a company, core technology and a clear commercialization basis.
Founders who returned within six years, have a company operating for two to five years and have pilot-stage or commercialized products can explore this direction. Discuss available local tracks and prepare details of company age, ownership, business operations and technology.
Turn an initial choice into an application plan
Map your background
Start with your existing CV: PhD date, overseas appointments, representative achievements and return plans. A full package of formal certificates is not needed for the initial discussion.
Compare actual hosts
Discuss the role, research or R&D tasks, team, equipment and career prospects. Once there is mutual interest, confirm the nomination channel, track and internal schedule.
Check the annual notice
Verify age, overseas experience, return date, full-time obligations and application restrictions. Select the formal route, then prepare supporting evidence for a defined purpose.
Common questions when choosing
What do QM, HY and HJ mean?
QM means the Qiming Program, also called the Qiming Plan or QM Plan. HY refers to the Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas). The HJ Program refers to the Huoju talent recruitment pathway. Compare their host institutions, requirements and funding to choose your direction.
Can someone aged exactly 40 explore the youth pathway?
Yes. You can begin QM youth-track discussions and preparation, with age calculated using the reference date in the relevant notice. HY's 2026 guide specifies birth on or after 1 January 1986. Compare your date of birth with each program's age rules.
How can an overseas PhD holder with two years of experience explore a relaxation?
Discuss your doctoral training, representative achievements and appointments with the host. The 2026 HY guide allows appropriate relaxation for overseas PhD holders with exceptional achievements, with the applicable rules and individual profile determining the experience requirement. Overseas doctorates obtained through joint domestic–overseas training are excluded from this relaxation. QM follows the experience arrangements for the relevant track.
How should I coordinate applications across the three programs?
Compare career directions and hosts first, then choose a formal application route. The 2026 HY guide limits applicants to one national science and technology talent program at the same level in the same application year, allows only one such award to be held, and prohibits applications at a lower level. Discuss previous awards, program levels and the annual application plan with your host.
How should I compare support packages?
Start with the long-term role, research direction and platform resources, then compare living support, research grants, salary and housing separately. Research funding supports the project, while other benefits follow their own conditions. Discuss recipients, payment schedules and assessment arrangements.
Application guides and annual arrangements
QM and HJ requirements and support packages depend on the talent category, application year and destination. HJ here refers to the Huoju talent recruitment pathway.
NSFC: 2026 Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas) application guidePublished 30 March 2026 for the 2026 application cycle. Later annual arrangements will be set out in new guides.
Unsure which direction fits your background?
Share your existing CV, research interests, preferred locations and return plans for an initial discussion with a talent advisor.