Government information
[1000 places in the first year] The government pushes the entry plan for science and technology talents, Yang Wei-hsiung: favorable industry development
Innovation and Technology Bureau announces the three-year "Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS)"
The Government announced today the three-year "Technology Talent Admission Scheme" to import overseas and Mainland scientific research talents for technology companies and institutions. It is expected to import up to 1,000 science and technology talents in the first year. The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, said that the rapid processing arrangements would be put in place to facilitate the importation of overseas and mainland research talents at a time when the world is competing for innovation and technology talents.The processing of applications can be completed within two weeks at the soonest if all the necessary documents are available.
The TechTAS will be implemented as a pilot type. The first batch of applicants will be those who are engaged in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, network security, robotics, data analysis and financial technology in the Science Park Corporation and Cyberport, these companies must prove Hong Kong are lacks or cannot easily acquire those talents with the relevant skills, knowledge or experience in order to protect the employment opportunities of local people. Yang Wei-hsiung said that after taking into account the views of the Science Park Corporation or the Cyberport, the Innovation and Technology Bureau would issue a quota of not more than 100 successful applicants to those companies and institutions each year.
He also pointed out that under the scheme, for every three non-local employees employed by the applying technology companies or organisations, one full-time local employee and two local interns were required to undertake the technology-related work. Those who plan to come to Hong Kong are required to hold a university degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM), i.e. "QS World University Rankings", the "Times Higher Education World University Rankings" and the "Academic Ranking of World Universities" are awarded by the first 100 universities related to STEM. No work experience is required for a master's or doctorate degree, and at least one year of work experience in a relevant technology field is required for a bachelor's degree.
Yang Wei-hsiung mentioned:
Talent is the key to the success of techtronics as the wave of techtronics is sweeping the world, planning to significantly simplify the entry procedures and reduce the time required to apply for techtronics, that played an important role in promoting the development of techtronics.
Mr Eric Yeung Chuen-sing, a member of the Advisory Committee on Innovation and Technology , said the government's plan launched was well targeted for short-term talent needs which in a correct direction, so that his own company is also interested in participating in the plan. He also said that It would definitely benefit the industry if the procedures for the admission of talents to Hong Kong could be completed within two weeks. In the past, due to the arrangement for talents to come to Hong Kong need for months and it may not be successful, affecting the development of the entire industry. It is also reasonable to hire one full-time local IT staff and two interns for every three overseas staffs, as It is widely expected that these overseas talents will come to Hong Kong not only for scientific research but also for training the local talents.
Mr Eric Yeung also said that the quota of 100 talents per company is reasonable, as there are about 80,000 to 90,000 people working in the IT industry in Hong Kong, the number of 1,000 overseas talents accounted for about 1-2% of the industry. This can be regarded as a trial and adjust it according to the situation. He stressed that although the plan is on the right track, its success will still depend on details such as whether there are accompanying insurance requirements, tax arrangements and actual approval times etc.
TechTAS will give briefing to the Technology Park Corporation and Cyberport tenants and incubation companies in the period from the end of May to mid-June. The target is to start accepting applications in June this year.