Song Chun-Zhu is one of the most prominent authorities in the field of artificial intelligence. After almost three decades developing in the United States, in 2020 Zhu returned to China. It is one of the most notorious cases, but it is not the only one. China has been offering better conditions and more resources with one goal: to recover its best minds to lead the technological career.
What’s happening. At the end of the 80s, with the promise of better working conditions and more resources a lot of Chinese talent emigrated to the United States. It was the case of the aforementioned Song Chun-Zhu or Liu Jun, who became one of the most prominent statesmen in the United States. Both They have returned to China And they are the example that the trend that began decades ago is reversing.
Why it is important. China is the largest engineers in the world And this has become a key factor in the AI era. It is estimated that at least 38% of the United States’s experts are Chinese and have studied in China. A recent example we have in The new Zuckerberg Superintelligence team, where almost all are Chinese. That a talent escape (rather return) from the United States to China could occur could tip the balance of leadership in AI.
Surveillance and tensions. In 2018, the United States promoted the ‘China Initiative’whose objective was to combat economic espionage by the Chinese government. This affected the work of many Chinese scientists, increasing by 75% the number of academics who decided to return to their native country in 2021. On the other hand, the growing tensions between the United States and China, added to The cuts Under Trump’s second mandate they have made the weather anymore.
China takes advantage. There is another key reason and that is that the Chinese government is offering very juicy incentives so that the best minds return to their land. They tell the Guardian, that Zhu was offered “resources he could never get in the United States.” It is similar to the case of the Brainco Neurotecnology Startup. It was founded in Boston by Han Biceng and currently has its headquarters in Hangzhou; He returned for the incentives offered by the government.
More facilities. This summer, the Chinese government announced a New visa aimed at young technology and science specialists. This visa offers more advantages as more entries, period of validity and longer stay. They can opt for children under 45 who have STEM studies and researchers. With this, the government seeks not only to recover the talent that went abroad, but to attract foreign talent itself.
Cover image | Song Chun-Zhu, Gary Lerude
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