[turnip1979]

This seems to be a non-issue IMHO. If they try to attract foreigners ala Startup Chile, they could fill these things up in weeks. If 40% occupied innovation centers is the biggest thing wrong with China, they aren't in bad shape.

Btw ... Ontario, Canada tried to do innovation from the top-down via the Mars building. The amount of money they spent in real-estate could have been used to give every person with a Masters/PhD in a STEM discipline from an Ontario University a bag of cash. But the buildings look prettier I guess than seed capital.

[seanmcdirmid]

Believe me, they have no interest in foreigners. All this is by Chinese for Chinese.

[throwaway1979]

Can you elaborate? Is this some kind of xenophohia like we see in other parts of the world? Or is it they want to learn how to do everything in the entire vertical chain (with a focus towards moving up the value chain)? Or something else entirely?

I see Chinese tech companies open up R&D shops in North America, and I'm curious what they really want out of it.

[seanmcdirmid]

The markets they are going after is domestic, the primary language even at my branch of an American company (Microsoft China) is Chinese. It is not a place where multiculturalism is common or especially appreciated. A few foreigners get hired here and there, but it's not very common at all.

If they really want foreign employees, they probably think setting up shop abroad is the only way to do it.