To accelerate Ningbo's development into a city of high-level innovation across alldomains, advance the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation, foster new quality productive forces in light of local conditions,and attract outstanding talents from around the world to grow together withNingbo, the 2026 Ningbo Yongjiang Talent Programme (Talent Introduction)(hereinafter referred to as the“Programme”) is hereby announced as follows:

I.Priority Sectors

The Programme is designed to attract and support projects in four priority areas:Manufacturing, University/Research Institution R&D, Modern Services, andModern Agriculture. Specifically:

·Manufacturing prioritizes sectors including green petrochemicals, new energyvehicles and high-end equipment, new materials, artificial intelligence androbotics, next-generation information technology, green energy, life and healthsciences, fashion consumer goods, and aerospace and marine engineeringequipment, with a view to fostering forward-looking future industries such asfuture manufacturing, future information, and future materials.

·University/Research Institution R&D is designed to support thedevelopment of high-level universities in Ningbo and to facilitatebreakthroughs in key core technologies, with a focus on attracting talents andteams with strong capabilities in original innovation.

· Modern Services prioritizes sectors such as e-commerce, port and shipping logistics, financial services andinsurance, education, culture and sports, professional services, planning anddesign, fashion and creativity, and S&T services.

· Modern Agriculture targets sectors including modern seed industry, smart agriculture andequipment, green agricultural development, agricultural product processing and qualitysafety, and rural operations and industrial integration.

The Programme encourages young talents to apply as project leaders. Under otherwiseequal conditions, priority will be accorded to:

· projects led by talents with more than threeyears of overseas experience;

· entrepreneurial projects already established and substantively operating in Ningbo;

· entrepreneurial projects that have secured investment from professional institutions; and

· projects that have received funding from Ningbo’s districts (counties/county-levelcities) or development zones.

II.Categories and Eligibility Requirements

Applications will be accepted and evaluated under four categories: Manufacturing, University/ResearchInstitution R&D, Modern Services, and Modern Agriculture.

1. Manufacturing

Applications shall be submitted through Ningbo-based enterprises and will be categorizedinto five tracks: Entrepreneurial Talents, Innovative Talents, Young Talents,Entrepreneurial Teams, and Capital-backed Talent Teams.

Individual sholding dual appointments—formally affiliated with a university/researchinstitution in Ningbo while concurrently employed by a Ningbo-basedenterprise—may apply through the host enterprise.

1.1 Entrepreneurial Talents

(1) The applicant shall, as a rule, hold a master’s degree or higher, possess at leastthree years of relevant work experience (completed on or before June 15, 2026,hereinafter the same), and be no older than 60 years of age (born on or afterJanuary 1, 1966, hereinafter the same).

(2) The applicant shall plan to establish a business in Ningbo, or have commencedentrepreneurship (or employment) in Ningbo for no more than 3 years (on orafter January 1, 2023).

(3) The applicant shall be the founder, legal representative, and largest shareholder(excluding shares identified through equity penetration, hereinafter the same)or the largest natural-person shareholder of the enterprise. Each enterprisemay submit only one application under the tracks for “Entrepreneurial Talents”.

(4) Upon selection, the enterprise registered in Ningbo shall serve as the principaloperating entity for the project (i.e., neither a subsidiary nor a branch ofanother enterprise, and shall assume the project’s core R&D, production, and operationalfunctions). The enterprise’s registered capital shall include a paid-in cashcontribution of no less than RMB 1 million from the applicant (natural person).

1.2 Innovative Talents

(1) The applicant shall, as a rule, hold a doctoral degree, possess at least threeyears of relevant work experience, and be no older than 60 years of age.

(2) The applicant shall have commenced work in Ningbo within the past two years (on orafter January 1, 2024) or intend to do so, with a view to conducting innovationcommercialization or basic research through a Ningbo-based enterprise. Uponselection, the applicant shall remain in full-time employment with thehost enterprise for no less than five consecutive years, and shall not hold full-timeemployment outside Ningbo during the funding period.

(3) The host enterprise shall, as a rule, have been established for at least one year,maintain sound financial and operational standing, and provide essentialresearch funding, R&D facilities, and all requisite resources for projectindustrialization.

(4) The legal representative, actual controller, principal founder, or largestnatural-person shareholder of the host enterprise shall not be eligible to applyunder the tracks for “Innovative Talents”.

1.3 Young Talents

The applicant shall, asa rule, hold a doctoral degree, possess at least one year of relevant workexperience (completed on or before June 15, 2026), and be no older than 40years of age (born on or after January 1, 1986, hereinafter the same). Other requirements are consistent with those specified in “1.2 Innovative Talents”.

1.4 Entrepreneurial Teams

Entrepreneurial teams shall possess key core technologies, demonstrate the potential to enhanceNingbo’s industrial competitiveness, spearhead industry development,generate notable economic and social benefits, and meet the following requirements:

(1) The team shall consist of one leader and at least four members. The team leadershall, as a rule, hold a master’s degree or higher, possess more than threeyears of relevant experience, and be no older than 65 years of age (born on orafter January 1, 1961, hereinafter the same). Team members shall hold amaster’s degree or higher, or a bachelor’s degree with more than three years ofrelevant work experience, and be no older than 55 years of age (born on orafter January 1, 1971, hereinafter the same).

(2) The teamleader and members shall intend to establish a business in Ningbo or havecommenced entrepreneurship (or employment) in Ningbo for no more than threeyears (on or after January 1, 2023). The team leader (natural person) shall bethe founder, legal representative, and largest shareholder of the enterprise. Theteam leader and members (natural persons) shall collectively hold more than 50%of the enterprise’s shares (including shares directly held through Ningbo-registeredholding platforms), with no fewer than two members holding shares.

(3) Upon selection, the enterprise registered in Ningbo shall serve as the principaloperating entity for the project (i.e., neither a subsidiary nor a branch ofanother enterprise, and shall assume the project’s core R&D, production,and operational functions). The enterprise shall have no less than RMB 2million in paid-in registered capital, fully in cash, with no less than RMB 1million contributed in cash by the team leader (natural person). During the fundingperiod, more than half of the team members shall remain in full-time employmentwith the Ningbo-based project enterprise.

1.5 Capital-backed Talent Teams

Capital-backed Talent Teams shall possess strong market potential, bring their own technology,projects, and capital to Ningbo for development, and meet the followingrequirements:

(1) The team shall consist of one leader and at least four members. The team leader shall,as a rule, hold a master’s degree or higher, possess at least three years ofrelevant work experience, and be no older than 65 years of age. Team members shallhold a master’s degree or higher, or a bachelor’s degree with at least threeyears of relevant work experience, and be no older than 55 years of age.

(2) The teamleader and members shall have commenced entrepreneurship (or employment) inNingbo for no more than three years and shall have established an enterprise inNingbo (with business registration completed on or before June 15, 2026). The teamleader shall be the founder, legal representative, and largest shareholder ofthe enterprise. The team leader and members (natural persons) shallcollectively hold more than 40% of the enterprise’s shares (including sharesdirectly held through Ningbo-registered holding platforms), with no fewerthan two members holding shares.

(3) The enterprise shall have no less than RMB 5 million in paid-in registered capital,fully in cash, with no less than RMB 1 million contributed in cash by the teamleader (natural person). In addition, the enterprise shall have secured no lessthan RMB 3 million (including capital reserves) in private investment, excludingany funding from Ningbo government sources at any level, the team’s owncapital, or from the team leader’s immediate family or spouse. Such investment shallbe received no later than three months before the application deadline (on or before March 15, 2026).

(4) The enterprise registered in Ningbo shall serve as the principal operating entity for theproject (i.e., neither a subsidiary nor a branch of another enterprise, andshall assume the project’s core R&D, production, and operationalfunctions). During the funding period, more than half of the team members shallremain in full-time employment with the Ningbo-based project enterprise.

2. University/ResearchInstitution R&D

Applications shall be submitted through Ningbo-based universities or research institutions(including industrial technology research institutes and healthcareinstitutions—whether public or private), and will be categorized into three tracks:Innovative Talents, Young Talents, and Innovative Teams. The applicant’sresearch direction shall, in principle, align with the host institution’s priority disciplines or strategic areas of development, and shall demonstrate strong capabilities in original innovation.

2.1 Innovative Talents

Requirements are consistent with those specified in “1.2 Innovative Talents”.

2.2 Young Talents

Requirements are consistent with those specified in “1.3 Young Talents”.

2.3 Innovative Teams

Innovative teams shall possess outstanding achievements or great potential in innovation,and meet the following requirements:

(1) The team shall consist of one leader and at least four members. The team leader shall,as a rule, hold a doctoral degree, possess at least three years of relevantfull-time work experience, and be no older than 55 years of age. Team members shallhold a doctoral degree, or a master’s degree or higher with at least three yearsof relevant full-time work experience, and be no older than 45 years of age (bornon or after January 1, 1981, hereinafter the same).

(2) The team leader and members shall intend to work in Ningbo, or have commencedemployment in Ningbo for no more than two years (on or after January 1, 2024).Upon selection, the team leader and members shall remain in full-timeemployment with the Ningbo-based host institution for no less than fiveconsecutive years, and shall not hold full-time employment outside Ningboduring the funding period.

(3) The host enterprise shall, asa rule, have been established for at least one year, maintain soundfinancial and operational standing, and provide essential research funding,R&D facilities, and all requisite resources for project industrialization.

(4) The legal representative, actual controller, principal founder, or largestnatural-person shareholder of the host institution shall not serve as theleader or a member of an applicant team under the tracks for “Innovative Teams”.

3. ModernServices and Modern Agriculture

Applications shall be submitted through Ningbo-based enterprises (with the exceptionthat education talents may apply through primary/secondary schools orsecondary vocational schools), and will be categorized into five sub-projects:Entrepreneurial Talents, Innovative Talents, Young Talents, EntrepreneurialTeams, and Innovative Teams.

3.1 Entrepreneurial Talents

The enterprise’s registered capital shall include a paid-in cash contribution of noless than RMB 0.5 million from the applicant (natural person). Other requirements are consistent with those specified in “1.1 Entrepreneurial Talents”.

3.2 Innovative Talents

Applicants shall, as a rule, hold a master’s degree or higher, with at least three yearsof relevant work experience. Other requirements are consistent with thosespecified in “1.2 Innovative Talents”.

3.3 Young Talents

Applicants shall, as a rule, hold a master’s degree or higher, possess at least one yearof relevant work experience, and be no older than 40 years of age. Otherrequirements are consistent with those specified in “1.3 Young Talents”.

3.4 Entrepreneurial Teams

Upon selection,the enterprise registered in Ningbo shall serve as the principal operatingentity for the project (i.e., neither a subsidiary nor a branch of anotherenterprise, and shall assume the project’s core R&D, production, andoperational functions). The enterprise shall have no less than RMB 1 million inpaid-in registered capital, fully in cash, with no less than RMB 0.5 millioncontributed in cash by the team leader (natural person). Other requirements areconsistent with those specified in “1.4 Entrepreneurial Teams”.

3.5 Innovative Teams

The teamleader shall, as a rule, hold a master’s degree, with more than three years ofrelevant full-time work experience. Team members shall, as a rule, hold amaster’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree with more than three years of relevantfull-time work experience. Other requirements are consistent with thosespecified in the “2.3 Innovative Teams”.

III.Special Provisions for Exceptional Cases

Exceptionally outstanding or urgently needed talents or teams that meet the relevantrequirements may, upon review and approval, be granted a waiver of onerequirement (e.g., age, academic qualification). Applicants seeking such awaiver shall submit a formal request through the application system, clearlystating the justification therefor.

IV.Application and Evaluation Procedures

The application and evaluation process will be jointly organized by theOrganization Department (Talent Office) of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee,Ningbo Municipal Economic and Information Technology Bureau, Ningbo EducationBureau, Ningbo Science and Technology Bureau, Ningbo Municipal Bureau of HumanResources and Social Security, Ningbo Investment Promotion Bureau, and relevantindustry authorities. The procedures are as follows:

(I) Application Acceptance: From the date of announcement until June 15, 2026,eligible applicants may log in to the application system (http://rcgc.nbrc.com.cn),fill out the application forms, and upload the required supporting documents asinstructed.

Applications will be accepted by different authorities, as determined by project track:

· For “1.Manufacturing”: applications under “1.5 Capital-backed Talent Teams”will be handled by the Ningbo Investment Promotion Bureau; applications underall other tracks will be submitted to the Ningbo Municipal Economic andInformation Technology Bureau.

· For “2.University/Research Institution R&D”: university R&Dapplications will be submitted to the Ningbo Education Bureau, while researchinstitution R&D applications (including industrial technology researchinstitutes and healthcare institutions—whether public or private) will be evaluatedby the Ningbo Science and Technology Bureau.

· For “3.Modern Services and Modern Agriculture”: applications will be handled bythe Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security incoordination with relevant industry authorities.

(II) Eligibility Review: From June to July 2026,applications will undergo a tiered eligibility review conducted by thecompetent authorities. Applications under “1.5 Capital-backed TalentTeams” will be subject to additional compliance due diligence carriedout by a third-party institution commissioned by the Ningbo InvestmentPromotion Bureau.

(III)Project Evaluation: From July to September 2026, project evaluation will beconducted through a combination of centralized assessment and directrecognition. Centralized assessment may take the form of documentreview, oral defense, or on-site inspection. Team projects will generallyundergo two rounds of evaluation; eligible team projects may apply for directentry into the final round of evaluation (see the “Direct Entry to Final Evaluation”module in the application system). Direct recognition includescriteria-based recognition (for applicants meeting predefined eligibilitycriteria), expert recommendation(for applicants endorsed by recognizedexperts), and recognition by the host organization (for applicants directly nominated by their employing institution). (See the “Direct Recognition” modulein the application system.)

(IV)Approval and Issuance: Based on the evaluation recommendations andrelevant review results, final approval and official issuance will be effectedin accordance with the prescribed procedures.

V. Policy Support

The funding period of the Yongjiang Talent Programme is generally five years. For “1.5Capital-backed Talent Teams”, the funding period commences on the date ofselection; for all other tracks, the funding period commences on the date ofdisbursement of the first tranche of funding.

(I)Manufacturing

During the funding period:

· Selected Entrepreneurial Talents and Innovative Talents may receive project funding of up to RMB 1 million, disbursed in two installments at a 1:1 ratio.

· Selected Young Talents may receive project funding of up to RMB 0.5 million, disbursedin two installments at a 1:1 ratio.

· Selected Entrepreneurial Teams will receive project funding at four tiers, with amaximum of RMB 20 million, RMB 10 million, RMB 5 million, or RMB 3 millionrespectively, disbursed in three installments at a 4:3:3 ratio.

Selected Capital-backed Talent Teams will receive performance-linked funding equivalentto 30% of the paid-in private capital investment at the time of application(rounded down to the nearest RMB 100,000), up to a maximum of RMB 20 million.The total funding will be allocated between project investment and project grantat a prescribed ratio, with the grant portion disbursed in three installmentsat a 4:3:3 ratio.

(II)University/Research Institution R&D

During thefunding period:

· Selected Innovative Talents may receive project funding of up to RMB 1 million each,disbursed in two installments at a 1:1 ratio.

· Selected Young Talents may receive project funding of up to RMB 0.5 million each,disbursed in two installments at a 1:1 ratio.

· Selected Innovative Teams will receive project funding at four tiers, with a maximum ofRMB 20 million, RMB 10 million, RMB 5 million, or RMB 3 million respectively,disbursed in three installments at a 4:3:3 ratio.

(III)Modern Services and Modern Agriculture

During the funding period:

· Selected Innovative Talents,Entrepreneurial Talents, and Young Talents may receive project funding of up toRMB 0.5 million each, disbursed in two installments at a 1:1 ratio.

· Selected Entrepreneurial Teamsand Innovative Teams will receive project funding at four tiers, with a maximumof RMB 5 million, RMB 3 million, RMB 1 million, or RMB 0.6 millionrespectively, disbursed in three installments at a 4:3:3 ratio.

VI.Miscellaneous Provisions

(I) Anapplicant (including team members) may apply for the same project track throughonly one host organization and shall not submit multiple applications.Effective from 2026, the cumulative number of applications submitted by anindividual shall not exceed three.

(II)Applicants shall carefully select the appropriate project track. If thesubmitted project does not correspond to the selected track, theapplication will be deemed ineligible upon review.

(III)Applicants shall set achievable phased objectives for the project. Thedisbursement of project funding will be contingent on the achievement of suchobjectives and the enterprise’s own financial contribution.

(IV)Selected teams shall, in principle, make no changes to theirmembership prior to project approval.

(V) The following individuals are not eligible to apply for the Yongjiang TalentProgramme:

1. Civilservants, personnel governed by the Civil Servant Law, andprincipal leaders of state-owned enterprises, universities, and researchinstitutions;

2.Individuals selected under national or Zhejiang Provincial talent programmes(except when applying for team projects);

3. Individuals selected under the Ningbo Top Talents in Science and Technology Project;

4.Individuals selected under the Ningbo Young Leading Talents in S&TInnovation Project;

5. Individuals or team members previously selected under the Yongjiang Talent Programme(including both Talent Introduction and Talent Cultivation tracks) or the “3315Talent Plan”;

6. Talentsor teams directly introduced through ad-hoc deliberation by municipalauthorities;

7. Individuals who have failed to fulfill or properly settle prior agreements related togovernment-sponsored overseas study, senior visiting scholar programs,postdoctoral international exchange programs, or other overseas programs fundedby public finance at any level; and individuals involved in disciplinary orlegal violations, or academic misconduct.

(VI)Applicants (including team leaders and members) shall make solemncommitments on the relevant matters in the application system. Failureto honour such commitments will result in automatic forfeiture ofeligibility.

(VII)Submission of false information will result in disqualification, inclusion in acredit misconduct registry, and permanent ineligibility for the YongjiangTalent Programme. For those already selected, approval will be revoked. Incases of legal violations, the responsible individuals will be held accountablein accordance with applicable laws.

(VIII) Application materials must not contain any state secrets.

(IX)Unauthorized modification of this Announcement is prohibited. Violatorswill be subject to legal liability.

(X) No intermediary organizations have been authorized to provide application guidancefor the Yongjiang Talent Programme. Applicants are advised to exercise cautionand guard against fraud.

VII.Contact Information

1. Manufacturing

Mr. Xu   0086-574-89292060

Mr. Yang  0086-574-89585030 (Capital-backed Talent Teams)

2. University/Research Institution R&D

University R&D:

Mr. Chen 0086-574-89186473

Research Institution R&D:

Mr. Wang 0086-574-89292217

Mr. Chen 0086-574-89183886(Healthcare)

3. Modern Services and Modern Agriculture

General Contact: Mr. Gao 0086-574-89298093

E-commerce: Mr. Hu 0086-574-89387096

Port & Shipping Logistics: Mr. Jiang 0086-574-89189042

Financial Services and Insurance: Mr. Zhang 0086-574-89185883

Education, Culture and Sports:

Mr. Chen 0086-574-89186473 (Education)

Ms. Wang 0086-574-89183384 (Education)

Mr. Ying 0086-574-89183948(Culture and Sports)

Professional Services:

Mr. Ye 0086-574-89388413 (Accounting)

Ms. Zhou 0086-574-87002630 (Legal)

Ms. Zheng 0086-574-89298066 (Human Resources)

Ms. Xu 0086-574-89382671 (Otherprofessional services)

Planning and Design:

Mr. Zhang 0086-574-89284669 (Planning)

Ms. Wang 0086-574-89187220 (Architecture)

Fashion and Creativity: Ms. Liu 0086-574-89186461

S&TServices: Ms. Huang 0086-574-89292504 / 89298068

Modern Agriculture: Ms. Zhu 0086-574-89184264