With the pace of foreign investment in the Chinese market slowing down or even stagnating, a relatively low-key but increasingly clear change is emerging. According to informed sources, local governments and technology companies in Zhejiang and Shenzhen have begun to shift their focus overseas, actively contacting and high-paying recruiting technical talents from Western countries, with a focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and high-end manufacturing.
A Spanish engineer named Rafael, who has been working on AI and robotics research in Europe for a long time, recently told a reporter from Dajiyuan that he received an invitation from a technology company in Zhejiang, China. The conditions offered to him included competitive salary, accommodation, assistance for his wife to find employment locally, and educational and living arrangements for his children.
Rafael had previously worked at a company in Guangzhou, but returned to Spain after the pandemic and worked as an engineer at a local technology company. He revealed that technology companies in Zhejiang and Shenzhen had invited him, promising family-oriented life support. He said, “It’s a robotics application company in Zhejiang. They asked me to come, I said my son is only one year old, and they said if you come (to Hangzhou), we will provide housing, arrange a job for your wife, and ensure your child’s education.”
Rafael indicated that the salary promised to him was significantly higher than his current income: “They said the salary is definitely very attractive, but they haven’t mentioned the specific amount yet. Two weeks ago, a company in Shenzhen with business dealings with Huawei also reached out to me.”
He further disclosed that since the beginning of this year, China has been increasingly recruiting AI engineers from overseas with high salaries, and the salary levels have continued to rise. He pointed out that the contacts from the Chinese side were not through public recruitment channels, but initiated through industry relationships privately.
A former engineer at Alibaba in Hangzhou, Bonnie, told the reporter that these recruitment actions by technology companies in Zhejiang did not appear in an official or policy release format but had gradually formed a pattern in specific technology fields. “They usually invite the other party to visit China through existing business contacts, and then attract them to stay with more generous benefits.” He said, “Inviting them to China for research, offering high salaries, large houses, cars, and sending their children to international schools.”
Zhejiang has gathered a large number of private technology companies that have heavily invested in areas such as robotics, automation equipment, and AI applications. Several industry insiders have indicated that compared to the central-level unified talent plans, local authorities are more inclined to target enterprises, combining practical conditions such as housing, settlement, and children’s education for targeted recruitment.
An individual familiar with local industrial policies pointed out that the recruitment of high-end technical talents in the AI research and application fields from overseas has become an increasingly widespread trend. A source mentioned that with foreign investment becoming more cautious, Chinese companies are increasingly emphasizing the importance of independent core technology, and some regions are starting to see luring talent from overseas as a more urgent task compared to attracting investment.
A consultant named Mr. Wen, who has long provided consulting services to technology companies, told reporters that this type of overseas talent introduction is not targeted at “academic stars” but focuses on mid-to-high-end technical personnel with practical engineering and research experience. “What companies require are individuals who can directly engage in projects and solve problems, rather than just titles.”
Unlike the past centralized “returnee programs,” the current recruitment methods of Chinese companies are more dispersed, emphasizing private negotiations and individualized terms. One interviewee mentioned that the demand for talent in the technology field is currently very urgent, and “the flow of AI talent from countries like the United States to China is highly sensitive, so we are very discreet in practical operations and also request the other party to maintain confidentiality.”
Observers believe that this change is closely related to the recent adjustments in the flow of foreign capital. With multinational companies reducing new investments in China and some high-tech projects moving overseas, domestic companies are facing increasing competition for technology and talent. Some enterprises see directly acquiring key technical talents as a more feasible alternative path compared to attracting overall capital.
So far, there has been no public statistical data on these recruitment actions, nor has there been a unified policy explanation. However, many interviewees have pointed out that such cases have gradually emerged in different cities, indicating an emerging trend.
Against the backdrop of cautious foreign investments and slowing investment, China’s methods of attracting external resources are subtly shifting. From attracting investments to attracting talents, from centralized announcements to discreet operations, this change may not attract immediate attention but could potentially have a significant impact on industrial layout and technological capabilities in the coming years.