Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

The Hengqin Postdoctoral Workstation has been approved by the National Postdoctoral Management Committee to independently recruit postdoctoral fellows. Hengqin is the first pilot free trade zone nationwide to receive such permission.

Hengqin New Area [File photo]

There are currently 363 postdoctoral workstations in Guangdong and only 15 recruit talent independently -- but, until now, none in Zhuhai.

Local officials say Hengqin plans to recruit 40 to 50 postdocs in 2017. What's more, it will take advantage of favorable policies to woo high-caliber overseas professionals.

"We'll explore a new model of directly bringing in postdocs from Macao and Hong Kong, and increase mentor-postdoc communication between the Chinese mainland, Macao, and Hong Kong," said Deng Lianbing, director of Hengqin's Postdoctoral Management Office.

Established in 2015, the workstation is located in the National Talent Management Reform Experimental Area and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Talent Cooperation Demonstration Zone. It now runs four sub-stations including Da Hengqin Technology Development Co Ltd, two innovation and practice bases with businesses ranging from computer software to electronics, Smart City construction, TCM healthcare, and financial investment.

It will link up with overseas postdoctoral policies as well as exchange, cooperation, and joint training among domestic and overseas doctors. A Hengqin brand will cultivate more high-level innovation-type youths serving innovation-driven development strategy. Meanwhile, it will accumulate experience for the area to become a national talent reform pilot zone, Deng revealed.