Hangzhou 131 Middle-Aged & Young Talent Plan

Hangzhou 131 Young Talent Plan — Selection

Offers Hangzhou researchers and professionals annual recognition stipends focused on capability development and employer support.

The Hangzhou 131 Middle-Aged and Young Talent Cultivation Plan (杭州市131中青年人才培养计划) is an annual talent recognition and training program operated by the Hangzhou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. The program selects mid-career and young professionals — typically researchers, academics, and professionals in priority sectors — through a three-tier hierarchy (First Level, Second Level, Third Level), with candidates nominated by their employing institution rather than applying independently. Selection takes place annually; an age ceiling of approximately 45 years applies, varying slightly by tier.

Funding under the 131 Plan takes the form of research training and cultivation stipends rather than project grants. Cited stipend amounts range from approximately CNY 30,000 at lower tiers to CNY 200,000 for top-tier recipients per selection cycle. The program is explicitly a professional development and recognition mechanism: funds support the recipient's research capacity development rather than a discrete deliverable or commercialization target. The 131 Plan operates alongside the Hangzhou 115 Overseas Intelligence Plan, and alumni of the program may gain visibility for nomination to higher-tier city talent classifications over time.

Eligibility requires active employment at a Hangzhou-based institution or enterprise, with the nominating employer responsible for submitting supporting documentation on behalf of the candidate. Sectors covered are broad — the program is not restricted to specific industries — although in practice nominees tend to come from research universities, government-affiliated research institutes, and established technology enterprises. Because this program is a training stipend and recognition scheme rather than a conventional project grant, its fit for applicants primarily seeking R&D or commercialization funding is limited; it is best suited for researchers seeking institutional recognition and modest professional development support within Hangzhou.