Tech companies in China are offering aggressive stock grants and equity plans to secure key personnel amid intense competition and the US-China tech race.

Chinese technology companies, particularly those in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors, are implementing widespread equity incentive plans to retain essential staff. Recent corporate filings show firms are utilizing stock grants, including zero-cost awards, to secure talent during a period of heightened domestic headhunting and international technological competition.

Incentives at Cambricon and Zhongji InnoLight

Cambricon Technologies recently allocated nearly 600,000 shares to 124 core staff members, resulting in an average value of 5.57 million yuan per person based on the announcement day share price. The company also launched a separate plan covering 85.3 percent of its workforce, involving 5 million shares to be distributed through 2028. Zhongji InnoLight, which produces optical transceivers for AI data centers, recently allocated 2.48 million shares to 99 key personnel. Based on the company's stock price in April, the average value of this grant exceeded 26 million yuan per person.

Broad Workforce Coverage at AMEC

Semiconductor equipment manufacturer Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment China (AMEC) has focused on inclusivity in its reward strategy. The company introduced a restricted stock plan in March that covers more than 97 percent of its total workforce.