More than 500 companies and institutions from Hunan province offer over 10,000 vacancies at a job fair at Peking University in Beijing on Sunday. (FU CONG / HUNAN DAILY）

When Wang Zhiquan, a PhD graduate in chemical engineering from Tsinghua University, and his team achieved a breakthrough in dental material technology in 2022, they faced a major challenge: the high cost of building a factory.

They found an answer to their problem in the form of the government of Zhuzhou, Hunan province, which offered a 5,000-square-meter factory rent-free and invested 8 million yuan ($1.1 million) in renovations. The way was paved for the team to mass produce their research findings.

Three years later, the startup has raised tens of millions of yuan, according to Wang, now the CEO. Its products reaching markets in dozens of countries.

"I'm often asked why, as a Beijing native, I chose to start my business in Hunan, specifically in Zhuzhou," Wang said. "My answer is simple: It all comes down to the nurturing environment."

Wang shared his story at a job fair at Peking University on Sunday, where more than 500 companies and institutions from Hunan province offered over 10,000 vacancies to attract top talent from across the country. Career opportunities were available in government agencies, public institutions, universities and research facilities, State-owned and private companies, and entrepreneurship.

More than 500 companies and institutions from Hunan province offer over 10,000 vacancies at a job fair at Peking University in Beijing on Sunday. (FU CONG / HUNAN DAILY)

"We hope that our graduates can proactively align their personal development with national strategies and find career opportunities in places where they are needed most," said Gong Qihuang, president of Peking University.

Benefiting from the rise of Central China, the integration of the middle Yangtze River region, and high-level opening-up, Hunan has witnessed the emergence of large manufacturing clusters, offering a vast stage for young talents to meet industry demands with their academic expertise, Gong said.

In addition to industrial advantages and supportive policies, cities in Hunan also stand out for their low cost and high living standards, Hunan Governor Mao Weiming said at the event. He emphasized the government's focus on innovation, opening-up, and green development, promising a bright future for graduates who choose to work there.

The job fair has attracted more than 10,000 students from universities in Beijing. It is part of a series of events organized by the Hunan provincial government to promote employment and entrepreneurship for college graduates. After its first stop in Shanghai last month, the recruitment tour also includes Xi'an, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Nanjing.

More than 500 companies and institutions from Hunan province offer over 10,000 vacancies at a job fair at Peking University in Beijing on Sunday. (FU CONG / HUNAN DAILY)