On September 3rd, inside the meeting room of the Xiong'an Meteorological Artificial Intelligence Innovation Research Institute, team members were engaged in a deep discussion about the latest generation of meteorological AI models.

In the institute's office area, Dou Zesheng, the chief architect, stared intently at his monitor. On the screen, warm and cool color gradients interweaved across the map's latitude and longitude grid. At this moment, only two months remain until the inaugural International Meteorological AI Seminar, scheduled for November in Xiong'an. At that event, the institute will unveil its newest meteorological AI model, which is currently undergoing its most critical phase of systematic evaluation.

Dou Zesheng, who previously worked at leading internet companies like Alibaba and Baidu, joined the institute last August. What drew him from the internet industry to this new AI track in meteorology was the combination of a national-level, high-caliber research platform and an unrepeatable development opportunity.

Currently, Xiong'an New Area is establishing a number of national technology innovation centers, national manufacturing innovation centers, national industrial innovation centers, major national scientific and technological infrastructure, and key national laboratories. It is also supporting the undertaking of several key national R&D programs and major scientific projects, encouraging the creation of post-doctoral research stations and high-level talent innovation platforms to attract tech innovators like Dou Zesheng.

"I am developing meteorological AI models in Xiong'an," Dou said, leading a visitor to the institute's exhibition hall. A prominent display wall, neatly arranged with four model icons, caught the eye. These are the four "Wind" series AI models independently developed by the institute: "Fengqing" for short and medium-range forecasting, "Fengshun" for sub-seasonal prediction, "Fengyuan" for meteorological science, and "Fenghe," a meteorological language model aimed at public service. Dou Zesheng participated in the upgrades of "Fengqing" and "Fengshun," as well as the release of "Fengyuan" and "Fenghe." The continuous iteration and application of these models will provide strong support for addressing the challenges of global climate change and extreme weather.

"Traditional weather forecasting and climate prediction are two relatively independent systems," Dou explained, pointing to the meteorological cloud imagery on the large screen. Traditionally, it takes five to six hours to generate a forecast from data acquisition. With AI technology, the computation time is compressed to just a few minutes. This not only significantly enhances disaster warning capabilities but also means the entire technological chain, from data and algorithms to computing power, is now independently controlled.

Behind these achievements lies the gathering of talent. Beyond Dou Zesheng, who leads the core technical direction, the institute has attracted over 60 researchers, including leading experts from the China Meteorological Administration, distinguished young talents, and key personnel from various meteorological units across the country, all choosing to settle in Xiong'an.

The formation of this team is supported by the policies of Xiong'an New Area. In November 2023, the area issued "Several Measures for Building an Innovation Highland and Entrepreneurship Hotspot to Attract New Talent," encompassing 16 initiatives that cover the introduction of top-tier talent, skilled personnel, young professionals, and rewards for major platform landing. This provides institutional guarantees that talent can come and, more importantly, stay.

The livable and business-friendly environment serves as the "soft attraction." "My commute used to be an hour; now it's just ten minutes to the office." Moving from Beijing to Xiong'an, what impresses Dou Zesheng most is the relaxed pace of work and life. During the Spring Festival this year, his family of three spent their first reunion year in their Xiong'an home. In his spare time, he takes his son to the Xiong'an Library. From the 7th-floor observation deck, new landmarks like the Xiong'an Innovation Research Institute and the Sinochem Mansion are all in view. He is both a witness to and a participant in this city's growth and transformation.

Dou Zesheng's choice is not an isolated case. Xiong'an's appeal to talent is shifting from relying on policy incentives to depending on major projects and high-level platforms. By undertaking national innovation carriers and establishing major research institutions, the New Area is pivoting its talent-attraction focus from short-term benefits to long-term value-driven development, enabling everyone who chooses Xiong'an to realize their dreams here and grow together with the city.