Nanjing Software: The New Brilliance of an Ancient City

Brands and Talents

    "Nanjing will put incentives in place to tempt high-caliber professionals from all over the world. A 'green channel' will be opened to introduce software talent," says Wang Yonghong, vice mayor of Nanjing.

    IT progress depends on a reserve of trained professionals. How to attract the best professionals effectively and efficiently is crucial. How many professionals can Nanjing provide, and is it enough? As the provincial capital, Nanjing can turn many features to its advantage. Today's Nanjing has 1,300 software companies with 90,000 employees, not to mention 41 universities and colleges, many with a long history and a good reputation. In addition, Nanjing is home to over 100 sci-tech research institutes and 18 key national labs. All of this bodes well for the city's future.

    The Nanjing municipal government is active in supporting software enterprises to enhance creativity of professionals. Each year, two leading model professionals are selected to receive a prize of RMB 1 million. Not stopping there, every year, four exemplary young entrepreneurs also receive a prize of RMB 500,000 each. These incentives will undoubtedly increase achievement in the industry.

    Mr. Wang from ZTE, who has focused on the Personal Access System (PAS) for years, compliments the working environment there, "Life in Nanjing is leisurely and enjoyable, excellent for helping residents give their best to their work." ZTE is now on Phase Three of its project in Nanjing. Interestingly, many ZTE or Huawei senior managers were trained in Nanjing.

    Vice Mayor Wang Yonghong promised to continue such beneficial policies to attract, keep and produce its own high-caliber professionals.

    "The 4th China (Nanjing) International Software Products Expo," which began at the same time with the "2008 China Internet Conference" and the "2008 China International Service Outsourcing Cooperation Conference," suggests some kind of critical mass is being formed to make Nanjing's rise to leading status in the software field more of a sure thing.

    For most people, software is something we take for granted that makes our lives easier or more enjoyable. In Nanjing, its importance to the local economy is always top of mind.