2026 Chengdu · Chunhui International Young Scholars Exchange Event Kicks Off

On July 15, the 2026 Chengdu · Chunhui International Young Scholars Exchange Event, co-hosted by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (under the Ministry of Education), the Sichuan Provincial Talent Office, and the Chengdu Municipal Talent Office, officially opened at the China‑Europe Center in Chengdu Hi‑tech Zone. The event drew over 300 outstanding young talents from around the world, including Marie Curie scholars and representatives of overseas Chinese students.

At the opening ceremony, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange unveiled the “Seven Major Service Brands for Overseas Returnees’ Employment and Entrepreneurship in 2026,” sending a strong signal of support for returning talents. Concurrently, a “Talent Ambassador” appointment ceremony was held, during which the Chengdu Municipal Talent Office presented letters of appointment to four overseas young scholar representatives. This move clearly demonstrated Chengdu’s commitment to attracting global talent with a broader vision, more concrete measures, and superior platforms.

“I truly feel the vibrant development momentum and strong international drive here. Many outstanding young scholars around me are paying close attention to the opportunities in Chengdu,” said Dr. Wang from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. “I believe this event will open a window for more overseas young people to learn about western China and Chengdu, and serve as a vital starting point for their return to China for innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Professor Mo Fan from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China shared his personal experience. “When I chose to settle in Chengdu, I was drawn by its complete innovation chain and its open, inclusive research environment. My research directions can quickly find application scenarios here, and there is solid support in terms of research funding, team building, office space, and living arrangements,” he said. He added that he would continue to deepen his technological R&D based on existing innovative projects, while actively promoting Chengdu to overseas young talents and attracting more outstanding researchers to come and work in the city.

Such “voting with their feet” stories are numerous. Data shows that during the “14th Five‑Year Plan” period, Chengdu has attracted a total of 2.67 million young talents to come for innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment, raising the city’s total talent pool to 6.857 million. Chengdu has been named “China’s Best City for Talent Attraction” for seven consecutive years, has earned the title of “Global Best City for Studying Abroad,” and has consistently been ranked among the “Most Attractive Cities for Foreign Talents” in China.

On the afternoon of the same day, three dedicated industry matchmaking sessions were held, focusing on: Future Transportation and Smart Cities, Future Medicine and Biomedicine, and AI, Robotics, and Aerospace Information. These sessions provided an effective platform for young scholars in these fields to interact and discuss cooperation with representatives from local universities and research institutes, Chengdu’s industry chain departments, industrial parks, key enterprises, and young government officials.

The four‑day event features a main plenary session, three industry‑chain sub‑forums, and a series of supporting activities, including venture capital matchmaking, site visits to industrial parks, and urban eco‑experience tours. All these are designed to promote precise alignment and deep integration of cutting‑edge technological achievements and high‑quality innovation projects from outstanding young talents—both domestic and overseas—with Chengdu’s key industrial chains.

Among the highlights, the venture capital matchmaking activity invites more than ten well‑known investment institutions to hold face‑to‑face discussions with young scholars. The site‑visit segment will take overseas young scholars to national‑key laboratories at local universities and key industrial parks—such as the Frontier Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, and IC PARK Industrial Park in Chengdu Hi‑tech Zone—offering an immersive experience of Chengdu’s modern industrial system and its strong scientific research capabilities.