The following white paper co-authored by China’s prestigious Zhejiang University and Chinese tech company Baidu examines China’s system for AI training in depth. Pointing to the United States’ dominance in AI talent, the authors urge closer and more rational cooperation between Chinese universities and tech companies in training AI talent to improve China’s self-sufficiency in AI. The authors also call for China to establish an international standards body for AI talent training.

The Chinese source text is available online at:  http://www.chuangze.cn/third_down.asp?txtid=4783

An archived version of the Chinese source text is available online at:    https://perma.cc/J2MC-DD9A

U.S. $1 ≈ 6.7 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB), as of July 29, 2022.

China Artificial Intelligence Talent Training Report

Institute of China’s Science, Technology and Education Policy, Zhejiang University
January 2022

Contents

I. Iterative Trends and Features of the Global AI Industry – 1 –

A. Waves of Development in the Global AI Industry – 1 –
B. The Global Rise of AI Industrial Policies – 3 –
C. Competition Is Intensifying in the Global AI Industry – 6 –

II. Analysis of the Current Situation in Global AI Talent Development – 7 –

A. Global AI Talent Competition Strategies – 7 –
B. Scale and Structure of Global AI Talent – 12 –
C. Global AI Talent Development Trends – 20 –

III. Main Models of AI Talent Training in China and Their Problems and Shortcomings – 21 –

A. Current Supply-Demand and Distribution of AI Talent in China – 21 –
B. University AI Talent Training Models and Characteristics – 27 –
C. Enterprise AI Talent Training Models and Characteristics – 36 –
D. Problems and Shortcomings in AI Talent Training – 45 –

IV. Construction of an integrated government-industry-academia-research institute (政产学研) AI talent ecosystem – 48 –

A. AI Talent Competency Abilities and Categorization – 48 –
B. Development of Basic Research Talents: Gathering disciplinary resources together to strengthen scientific research cooperation – 50 –
C. Development of Scenario Application-Oriented Talents: Strengthening industry-education integration to improve application practice – 61 –
D. Construction of an integrated government-industry-academia-research institute AI talent ecosystem – 64 –
E. Building an “AI+” Education Ecosystem of Multiparty Cooperation – 67 –

V. Policy Recommendations – 68 –

A. Build an AI Talent Training System that Serves National Strategies – 69 –
B. Strengthen Multidisciplinary Cooperation and Establishment of AI Minors – 69 –
C. Rely on Industry Leaders to Build the “AI+X” Education Ecosystem – 70 –
D. Explore Construction of a Global Standards System for AI Talent Training – 71 –

For the full translation, download the PDF below.