To date, Shandong province possesses a total of 459 postdoctoral stations, ranking third in the country, including 137 mobile centers for post-doctoral studies distributed across 19 universities and research institutes, according to the Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security. There are 322 postdoctoral scientific research stations in the province's 16 cities.

At present, the province is home to 4,290 postdoctoral researchers and a total of 10,157 postdoctoral researchers have been recruited.

Postdoctoral researchers are among the most innovative professionals with great potential to promote regional technological improvement and boost economic development.

Shandong is now embracing a plum development opportunity by replacing old economic growth drivers with new ones, in which the province will foster competitive industrial clusters and contribute to the construction of a modern economic system in China. The introduction, recruitment, and training of young postdoctoral researchers are of great importance to Shandong's high-quality development.

According to the Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, Shandong has taken many innovative measures in recent years to reform and improve the postdoctoral management system, enhance training quality, support innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as break restrictions in household registration management, professional title assessment, staffing models, and other aspects.

Shandong has invested heavily to establish a scientific and sound post-doctoral innovation and entrepreneurship funding system. Last year, the total investment of postdoctoral funds reached 15 million yuan ($2.18 million). Local governments and postdoctoral institutions have also increased their investment in postdoctoral work, with a total investment of about 3 billion yuan funded.

To date, 1,603 provincial and ministerial awards have been awarded, including national natural science awards, technological invention awards, and scientific and technological progress awards.

Through the integration of enterprises, universities, and research institutes, significant benefits have been achieved in the transformation of scientific research results and a large number of pillar industries have benefited. The latest data showed that a total of 7.39 billion yuan in direct economic results has been obtained from postdoctoral research work.

German experts visit an enterprise in Shandong. [photo/safea.gov.cn]

Samuel Chao Chung Ting, a Chinese-American scientist and Nobel Prize winner in physics, is appointed as honorary dean of the advanced technology research institute of Shandong University. [Photo/media.sdu.edu.cn]

The 10th China (Shandong) Domestic and Overseas High-end Talents Exchange Fair opens in the coastal city of Weihai, Shandong province on Oct 30, 2018. [Photo/WeChat account: weihaifabu]

The third Overseas Academicians' Qingdao Tour and Qingdao International Academicians Forum kick off on May 30 in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]