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US-China tech war
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Pay, perks, equity: China’s AI, chip firms lead way in offering rewards to lock in talent

Companies are rolling out an unprecedented wave of stock grants amid fierce domestic headhunting and an intensifying US-China tech race

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Tech companies are caitalising on a bull market to roll out aggressive incentive plans to retain talent. Photo: Shutterstock
Ann Caoin Shanghai
In the high-stakes battle for China’s top talent, domestic tech companies – especially in semiconductors and artificial intelligence – are rolling out aggressive equity incentive plans as they capitalise on a bull market to retain key personnel.
Recent corporate filings revealed an unprecedented wave of stock grants, ranging from zero-cost share awards to near-blanket workforce coverage, all aimed at locking in critical talent amid fierce domestic headhunting and the intensifying US-China tech race.

Which company is the most generous? The answer depends on whether generosity is measured by total shares granted, individual fortune-making, or how far down the rewards extend to employees. Here’s a breakdown across sectors.

Semiconductors and hardware

AI chipmaker Cambricon Technologies is the latest to deliver massive windfalls to employees. Earlier this week, it unlocked nearly 600,000 shares for 124 core staff – yielding an average stock value of 5.57 million yuan (US$828,000) per person, based on its share price on announcement day.

It also rolled out a 5 million share grant last month for 944 employees under its recent incentive plan through 2028, covering 85.3 per cent of its total workforce.

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