(Yicai) July 24 -- Huawei Technologies has launched its latest Top Minds program, an initiative launched by the Chinese tech giant’s founder Ren Zhengfei five years ago to recruit talented young individuals from around the world.

Candidates from all educational backgrounds, schools, and majors can apply, but they must have made significant achievements in areas such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, artificial intelligence, and have the ambition to become a leader in the tech field, Huawei said yesterday. 

That includes those individuals who have published significant research papers, registered patents, or won awards in top international competitions, the Shenzhen-based company added. 

The mobile phone giant will set successful applicants world-class challenges to work on and provide mentors who are experts in their fields to guide them, along with global platforms and resources, it said.

Unlike in previous years, the latest Top Minds program neither specifies the salaries candidates can expect to receive nor the number of positions available. Huawei has previously offered annual pay in a range of CNY896,000 to CNY2 million (USD123,130 to USD274,840).

“In the future, Huawei will move the world forward and create its own standards,” Ren said at the time the program was launched. "As long as Huawei can become the most advanced in the world, it will be the standard, and everyone else will be trying to close the gap with us.”

The application process for Top Minds, which is also known as the Genius Youth program, is rigorous, as it involves around seven rounds of screening. Huawei requires candidates to be able to "tackle global challenges" and "build shared standards.” Some of the fields they will work in are AI, smart devices, cloud computing, intelligent vehicles, and smart manufacturing.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Emmi Laine