Shandong has published multiple measures on speeding up the convergence of academician resources for sci-tech innovation development, aiming to attract more high-level talents, represented by academicians, to serve in Shandong and contribute to the province's innovation development.

1. Establishing sustainable support policies

Academicians who live in Shandong and still work on scientific research are eligible to apply for funding of 5 to 10 million yuan ($726,820-$1.45 million) for sci-tech research on self-selected research projects. They also have access to sci-tech innovative platforms at the provincial level and above, key science research infrastructures, as well as instruments and equipment of Shandong's large scientific instruments and equipment share collaboration platform.

Companies and institutions with newly-recognized academicians will be funded with a maximum of 30 million yuan within five years to support the sci-tech research of academicians and their teams.

2. Encouraging academician teams outside the province to support Shandong's development

Research funding and awards are open to non-local academician teams to encourage them to work with Shandong-based companies and institutions applying for provincial sci-tech plan projects and awards. The distribution of funding can be determined by self-negotiation.

Part-time academicians, who have great influence in their own study, play a leading role in developing Shandong's industries, work in Shandong for no less than two months, and conduct national key sci-tech projects in the province are allowed to apply for the provincial sci-tech subsidy under the policy of "one project one discussion."

3. Deepening overseas talent cooperation

Local companies and institutions are encouraged to establish offshore innovation and entrepreneurship bases in overseas countries. Those eligible academicians, who have been employed by academic institutes of developed countries, will enjoy equal policy support with full-time or part-time academicians.

The provincial government will also support Nobel Prize winners in natural sciences to set up a "Nobel Prize Scientist Lab" under the policy of "one project one discussion.”

4. Supporting the establishment of key innovative platforms

Academician teams are urged to establish key innovative platforms in Shandong with a focus on the province's innovation advantages. Funds ranging from 10 million to 30 million yuan will be allotted to each platform if it upgrades to the national level.

Academicians building provincial leading labs will be provided with financial support. In addition, the province supports academicians to build key sci-tech research infrastructure and large science instruments based on the policy of "one project one discussion."

5. Encouraging enterprises and institutions with academicians set up "special talent zones"

Institutions with the right to confer master or doctoral degrees shall give priority to academicians while determining the master enrollment target.

Academicians are encouraged to introduce talents to Shandong. The talents attracted from overseas or areas outside the province can apply for Shandong's key talent projects.

Academician teams that serve in Shandong and help trained academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, those under the national talent project, and winners of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars will be entitled to 500,000 to 1 million yuan.

6. Promoting the transfer of sci-tech achievements

Academicians founding sci-tech start-ups or promoting sci-tech achievement transfer will receive privileges, such as the provincial fund for the "conversion of old and new growth drivers," and loan risk compensation of sci-tech achievement transfer.

The academician teams that win the first prize of the national science and technology award and those second prize winners for sci-tech achievements will be awarded with 5 million yuan and 1 million yuan respectively, with Shandong-based institutions working as first completion units for the achievements. The outstanding winners will be granted under the policy of "one project one discussion."　

7. Strengthening the construction of academician workstations

Academician workstations are encouraged to set up a performance evaluation system to make dynamic management and reward the good. A maximum of 1 million yuan will be allocated to academicians with outstanding performance. Shandong also supports the establishment of an academician workstation alliance, which is expected to organize regular activities of academicians in Shandong, as well as promote the integration of academicians' achievements with Shandong's industrial demands.

8. Encouraging more suggestions on innovative development

Shandong will hold regular academician talks to collect their suggestions on local economic and social development. It will also set up a union of Shandong academician experts to invite academicians to join the Shandong Science and Technology Strategic Consultation Expert Bank, as well as the "Top Ten  Industry Expert Think Tank". It will encourage academicians to take the lead in provincial consultation and argumentation of key strategic planning, as well as research on scientific and industrial development strategy. Projects on the "conservation of new and old growth drivers" will be supported by the government fund.

9. Actively improving the honor incentive mechanism

Shandong encourages the construction of advanced technology research institutes and industrial technology research institutes named after academicians to promote public respect for academicians. The academician teams that make significant contribution to Shandong will be granted with Shandong's top sci-tech prize and Qilu outstanding talent prize. Overseas academicians that make great contributions to Shandong will receive Shandong's international sci-tech cooperation award and Qilu friendship award. In addition, academicians are encouraged to set up a social power sci-tech award.

10. Enhancing service support to innovation entrepreneurship

Shandong encourages cities across the province to optimize the online-offline service mechanism for academicians, such as: the construction of service centers, honor exhibition halls, and cloud platforms of academician intellectual cooperation; building industrial parks of academician innovation and entrepreneurship; backing up the construction of the Qingdao International Academician Park and Jinan Academician Valley; and supporting academicians with funds in hosting international sci-tech innovation forums.