I. Why I Was Willing to Apply
I've never been on a purely academic track. I spent over a decade working in a British company, with hands-on technology and patents to my name. But when it comes to publishing papers, I simply can't compete with those in academia. So when I first learned about the this Plan from Li Xin, I had my doubts—I wondered whether someone with my "industry background" would really fit the profile for this kind of talent program.
After talking with some Chinese colleagues and friends in my field, I gradually came to understand that the this Plan evaluates candidates quite differently from what I had assumed. It doesn't require a long list of top-tier journal publications. Instead, it focuses on whether your work can solve real problems on the production and R&D. That was a crucial realization for me, because my experience is exactly that kind of story—from an initial idea to a prototype, and then to mass production. I can clearly explain every challenge I encountered along the way and how I navigated around them.
II. Submitting Documents and Finding a Matching Enterprise
Li Xin told me that applying for this program required providing certain personal documents, including my passport, academic credentials, and other private information. At first, I was hesitant. But after Li Xin explained the process, I understood that this program requires real-name verification and a very strict authenticity review before an application can even be submitted. To put my mind at ease, Li Xin also signed a confidentiality agreement with me. That was what ultimately convinced me to trust her as my representative.
The process of finding the right enterprise match was somewhat challenging—Xin helped me to get in touch with three companies in total. With some, we found after discussion that our research directions didn't quite align; with others, I couldn't offer a solution to their needs in the short term. The company we finally settled on was one where we had thorough conversations about the technical roadmap, job responsibilities, and team structure.
III. The Waiting Period
Once the match was confirmed, Li Xin told me she would handle the entire application process on my behalf and asked me to be patient while waiting for the results. During that time, she only occasionally reached out to confirm a few details—it never took up much of my time.
After submission, it was just a waiting game. A full six months or more passed with no news. I did feel anxious at times and couldn't help sending messages to Li Xin asking if there was any update. She always responded patiently. Eventually, I let go of the constant anticipation and just focused on my day-to-day work. The day I received the notification was in the afternoon. I felt surprisingly calm about it—I just went out for a quiet dinner by myself in the evening.
IV. How It Felt After Being Selected
To be honest, the support and resources that came after selection arrived faster than I expected. After being selected, the company invited me to visit their office and experience the local culture. I was deeply impressed by the kindness of the company's boss and the harmonious living environment there. Eventually, I chose to work on-site full-time. After completing the necessary procedures in China, with Li Xin's coordination and help, the local talent liaison officer got in touch with me promptly. They assisted with matters like household registration and children's schooling—I barely had to handle any of it myself. The research start-up funding and housing subsidies were also disbursed according to the schedule outlined in the contract.
On the work front, the host company set up a new R&D team, and I'm leading its direction. What I'm doing now is quite different from my previous work overseas—it's much closer to the market side, but also more challenging, because the conditions for solving problems have changed. The supply chains, equipment, and process parameters I used to rely on all need to be re-adapted to the local context.