Dreaming high: Taiwan youth seeks low-altitude opportunities

THE decision to venture southward to Shenzhen in pursuit of career opportunities after graduating from Peking University in 2022 was a pivotal moment in the professional trajectory of Chang Yen-lun, a youth from Taiwan.

“I’ve harbored a deep-seated aspiration to immerse myself in the realm of hard technology, so I ardently sought opportunities across various companies in Shenzhen. I did a great deal of background research on the internet and determined that the low-altitude economy has burgeoning potential in the city, so I decided to move here,” said Chang.

Ultimately, he accepted a job in the drone business department of Meituan, China’s leading food delivery platform, after receiving multiple offers.

Today, new quality productive forces — represented by new energy vehicles, innovative energy storage solutions, and the low-altitude economy — have become new engines for Shenzhen’s high-quality development.

This shift has drawn young professionals from around the country to converge in Shenzhen to embrace personal and professional growth.

Why Shenzhen

Born in 1997, Chang obtained a master’s degree in industrial design engineering from Peking University.

Chang’s research focus is engineering technology design. He uses his knowledge of sensors, robotics, and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) to design products.

“I gradually developed an interest in smart hardware, and I made a wearable miniature blood oxygen monitoring device for my graduation project. The device can provide long-term monitoring for patients with [sleep] apnea,” said Chang.

Reflecting on his time at Peking University, Chang emphasized that using technology to improve people’s lives is the most significant lesson he learned from his studies.

Shenzhen is appealing due to its strong atmosphere of scientific and technological innovation, plentiful job opportunities, lucrative professional support policies, and advantageous geographical location, Chang said.

“During the job interview [with Meituan], I was quite excited to be told that I would be dispatched to engage in the drone business. Meituan has a strong presence in the UAV field,” he stressed.

Chang now serves as the hardware product manager at Meituan and is responsible for defining drones’ functions, dimensions, speed, payload, and sensors.

“What are the functions of the drone? What is its size, flight speed, and load, and what sensors does it carry? These details need to be clearly depicted by us so that you can perceive us as the ‘portrait maker’ of the drone,” he explained.

This March, Meituan officially launched its first drone delivery route at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. The service offers speedy deliveries to student dorms in about 10 minutes.

“This project left a deep impression [on me] because I graduated from Peking University, so this means the drone delivery route was launched at my alma mater,” said Chang.

According to Chang, his team has also cooperated with universities to conduct research on cutting-edge technologies in the low-altitude economy, including investigation of the impact of wind on drone safety in urban scenarios. He hopes these studies will benefit the development of the entire industry.

Policy support

Already at the forefront of the flourishing low-altitude economy, Shenzhen has formed a complete industrial chain covering UAV research and development, production, manufacturing, sales, and real-world application.

As of the end of 2023, Shenzhen is home to over 1,700 drone companies that have a combined annual output totaling 96 billion yuan (US$13.26 billion), according to official data.

Companies in other sectors have also dabbled in the low-altitude economy, which has led to a mushrooming of innovation in the field, according to Yang Jincai, chairman of the World UAV Federation and president of the Shenzhen UAV Industry Association.

In support of this sector, Shenzhen has issued a four-year action plan for a low-altitude economy that aims to build a low-altitude economic center, a general aviation industry comprehensive demonstration area, and a civil unmanned aviation test area.

Last May, the city established the Shenzhen Low-Altitude Economy Expert Committee, while in August last year, the city’s transport bureau issued a series of supportive measures aimed at developing low-altitude airspace. (Shenzhen Daily)