2027 Huoju (HJ) Talent Program Application Guide

1. Program overview and candidate profiles

The Huoju (HJ) Talent Program addresses research and innovation needs, with a focus on frontier research, key technology development and the practical application of research. Application preparation centers on connecting a candidate's research interests and achievements with the research priorities of a host institution in China.

Relevant candidates include researchers at overseas universities and research institutes, as well as senior technical professionals in the R&D departments of well-established overseas companies. Matching should consider not only academic and technical experience, but also the proposed work, laboratory facilities and team requirements.

• University and research-institute talent: researchers with a solid track record and the ability to conduct independent research or organize research projects.
• Industry R&D talent: professionals with achievements in key technologies, product development or engineering problem-solving who can clearly explain their own contribution.
• Young research talent: doctoral graduates with overseas work experience and representative achievements who wish to connect with research institutions in China.

2. Eligibility preparation: education, age and talent category

Candidates are generally expected to hold a doctoral degree, with preference given to science and engineering backgrounds. Their expertise should align with the host institution's research field and planned research activities.

Under the preparation criteria outlined in this guide, young talent candidates are generally under 40, while the age range for innovation talent may be extended to under 65. The host institution should check the age reference date, boundary cases and applicable category against the requirements for the application year. Classification rules from other talent programs should not be applied automatically.

The appropriate talent category cannot be determined by age alone. Overseas appointments, research experience, representative achievements and proposed responsibilities should also be considered.

3. Overseas appointments, research capability and work experience

Reference appointment criteria include associate professor or more senior positions, or roles of an equivalent level, at overseas universities or research institutes; alternatively, senior technical positions in the R&D departments of well-established overseas companies. Documents should describe the actual responsibilities, research activities and candidate's own contributions.

Candidates are generally expected to have at least 3 years of full-time overseas work experience. Full-time postdoctoral work overseas can count toward this period. For candidates with outstanding research achievements and exceptional innovative capability, the host institution can assess whether relaxed requirements apply. Doctoral study and postdoctoral employment should be listed separately.

Research and innovation capability can be demonstrated through publications, patents, research projects, key technologies, product development and commercialization. Candidates with expertise in key technologies or the ability to resolve major technical challenges should explain the problem, their approach, validation results and practical value.

• Clearly list overseas employers, positions, full-time status, start and end dates, and responsibilities, explaining any gaps or overlapping appointments.
• Select representative achievements that demonstrate independent research, leadership in technical development or the ability to solve complex R&D problems.
• Industry R&D professionals can emphasize key technologies, development projects, product applications and patents rather than focusing only on publications.
• Prepare verifiable evidence of significant appointments and achievements, clearly identifying the candidate's role in team results.

4. Host institutions and return-to-China arrangements

Candidates need to connect with an eligible major laboratory, research institute or other host organization in China and establish preliminary mutual interest. Both parties should discuss research interests, proposed responsibilities, the position and research facilities to develop an arrangement suited to the candidate's capabilities.

This guide is intended for preliminary assessments of candidates who have not yet returned or moved to China, or who have done so within the past year. Candidates already in China should accurately set out their return or arrival date, appointments in and outside China, and actual start date, allowing the host institution to check the applicable eligibility window.

Candidates can begin background assessment, institutional matching, research discussions and document preparation while still overseas. There is no need to resign from an overseas position simply to obtain an initial consultation. Employment, the start date and subsequent work arrangements should be clarified with the host institution.

• Confirm the host institution's application eligibility, internal nomination process, contact person and review deadline.
• Discuss research responsibilities, team composition, laboratory facilities, compensation and career development.
• Agree on each party's responsibilities for document preparation, review, nomination and subsequent recruitment arrangements.

5. Support arrangements: talent subsidies, research funding and housing support

The following is a reference support package described in this guide. The applicable location, talent category, recipient and payment conditions must be confirmed with the receiving institution; these benefits are not uniformly available nationwide. The three types of support serve different purposes—personal living costs, research activities and home purchase—and do not amount to a personal cash award of RMB 9 million.

• Reference talent subsidy: a total of RMB 3 million, comprising RMB 1 million in central support, RMB 1 million in provincial support and a combined RMB 1 million from city and district authorities. Eligibility for each level of matching support and payment arrangements should be checked against the policies of the destination location.
• Reference research funding: talent conducting basic research at universities, research institutes, hospitals or similar institutions may explore RMB 3 million in research funding. This funding is intended for research activities, projects and outputs, not a personal award that can be spent freely.
• Reference housing subsidy: talent meeting the local Dengfeng Program's criteria may apply separately for RMB 3 million in home-purchase support. Approval under that program is required, together with verification of local home-purchase, talent-recognition and payment requirements.

6. Application preparation process

Start preparing early. The following checklist follows a practical preparation sequence; the formal application procedure and submission window are set by the relevant authorities and host institution.

• 1. Preliminary assessment: provide an existing Chinese or English CV and outline education, overseas appointments, research interests, representative achievements and return-to-China status.
• 2. Institutional matching: connect with major laboratories, research institutes or other organizations whose research needs align with the candidate's expertise, and discuss the role and research facilities.
• 3. Cooperation planning: clarify proposed responsibilities, the research plan, team resources and future start-date arrangements to establish a basis for collaboration.
• 4. Document preparation: collect degree, appointment, achievement and cooperation evidence, ensuring that dates, job titles and descriptions of contributions are consistent.
• 5. Institutional review and nomination: revise the application according to the host institution's requirements and allow time for internal review and additional evidence.
• 6. Follow-up: respond to official feedback and recruitment arrangements, and follow up on employment, research responsibilities and applications for applicable support.

7. Document checklist and initial consultation

For an initial consultation, an existing CV in Chinese or English is sufficient. Also state whether you have already returned or moved to China, your preferred locations and your expected availability to start. You do not need to assemble all supporting documents at the first consultation.

Once the host institution and application direction are established, complete the formal documentation progressively according to its requirements. Sensitive documents, such as identity documents, should be submitted through the secure channel designated by the host institution.

• CV: bachelor's, master's and doctoral education; overseas employment; current employer and role; research interests; and contact details.
• Education and degrees: doctoral degree evidence and any other required educational documents, with the institution, subject and award date checked for accuracy.
• Overseas employment: contracts, appointment certificates or other evidence stating the employer, employment status, dates and responsibilities.
• Representative achievements: publications, patents, research projects, products or technical achievements, supported by an explanation and evidence of the candidate's own contribution.
• Research proposal: the problem to be addressed, research tasks, technical approach, expected outputs and institutional resources needed.
• Cooperation and return arrangements: preliminary interest from the host institution, discussions about the role, appointments in and outside China, and a return or arrival timeline.

8. Timing and preparation advice

Preparation for 2027 can begin with organizing your CV and contacting potential host institutions. Institutional matching, collecting employment evidence and developing a research proposal all take time; there is no need to wait for the formal notice before starting this work.

Once a host institution is identified, track both its internal review deadline and the authorities' formal submission deadline, allowing sufficient time for revisions, supplementary evidence and nomination review.

Specific eligibility requirements, locations covered by subsidies, rules on combining support and payment arrangements are subject to the annual notice applicable to the destination location and confirmation by the host institution.