The 2026 Shanghai-Nanjing Belt Talent Development Conference took place in Putuo District on April 28, unveiling a series of major initiatives including new talent policies, a digital service platform, a global innovation and entrepreneurship contest, and cross regional collaboration measures.
Putuo District, together with East China Normal University and eight cities along the Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt, jointly established the Shanghai-Nanjing Industrial Innovation Belt Talent Development Research Institute. The institute will focus on talent policy coordination, industry education integration, and regional resource sharing, providing a practical model for cross regional talent collaboration in the Yangtze River Delta.
A highlight of the conference was the emphasis on cultivating urgently needed talent to meet industrial demand and attracting global talent through innovation contests.
At the conference, the Putuo District rounds (both domestic and overseas) of the 6th Shanghai Global Talent Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition opened project applications. Eight categories of incentives were announced, including prize money, relocation subsidies, housing allowances, free office space, and investment and financing support.
The District Science and Technology Commission and the District Commerce Commission respectively inaugurated the Putuo Science and Technology Industry Talent Academy with East China Normal University’s School of Integrated Circuits Science and Engineering, and the Putuo Bulk Commodity Trading Industry Talent Academy with Shanghai University of Finance and Economics’ School of Economics.
Also unveiled at the conference was the Suhe Talent Service Platform, which covers convenient travel, quality living, and health services, offering a one stop online concierge service.
