Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Youth Development: Graduate Entrepreneurship Policies in Shenzhen

Jin JIANG

Research output: Other Conference ContributionsPresentation

Abstract

In recent years, university graduates, experiencing the massification of higher education in China, encountered serious challenges in gaining employment. The Chinese government has been making great efforts to promote graduate employment. The ‘mass entrepreneurship and innovation’ (大眾創業 萬眾創新) initiative that was launched in 2014, boosted the high-tech industry and strongly encouraged fresh university graduates to form start-ups. Embracing the calls from the central government, local governments aggressively created concrete plans to boost graduate employment through innovation and entrepreneurship. However, whether graduate entrepreneurship could succeed depends partly on local policies, and on the local endowment of technology, labour and capital.

Shenzhen City is the only non-municipal city of most active entrepreneurship (Shenzhen and Beijing and Shanghai (two municipalities) ranks as the first-tier cities) and received the largest amount of venture capital (Tencent Research Institute, 2016, Internet Entrepreneurship and Innovation White Paper). Shenzhen is also one of the pilot localities for mass innovation by the State Council in May 2016. Against the backdrop, this study critically examines how the Shenzhen government act to support the development of innovation and entrepreneurship of university graduates. The analysis will focus on the graduate entrepreneurship policies in Shenzhen, including but not limited to financial support, the training of human resource, and other policy programmes for innovation such as incubators and institutional support. The final section of this study will discuss implications for how innovative entrepreneurship could significantly contribute to creating employment opportunities and youth development.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 20 Apr 2017
EventSmart Cities, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities - Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
Duration: 20 Apr 201720 Apr 2017

Symposium

SymposiumSmart Cities, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities
Country/TerritoryHong Kong
CityTuen Mun
Period20/04/1720/04/17

Bibliographical note

Invited Paper

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