Xi'an is a key scientific research, higher education, national defense science and technology, and high-tech industrial base in China, with its comprehensive scientific and technological strength ranking third among Chinese cities. Xi'an has 672 scientific research institutions on the municipal level and above, more than 130 national key laboratories, technical research centers, and industrial test centers, and more than 3000 various scientific research technology and innovation institutions. Every year, there are more than 3000 scientific and technological achievements, of which there are about 1000 key scientific and technological achievements. Many of China's firsts, including the engine of China's first carrier rocket, the onboard control and communication equipment of China's first man-made satellite, the first integrated circuit, and the first batch of power semiconductor devices, were produced in Xi'an. Some key parts of "Shenzhou VI Spacecraft," "Shenzhou VII Spacecraft," and "Shenzhou VIII Spacecraft" were studied and manufactured in Xi'an. Scientific and technological progress had the contribution rate of 53% to the municipal economic growth. The whole city has a population with degree above junior college of more than 850000, accounting for 10.92% of municipal population and ranking the leading place in China.

Xi'an has 50 regular higher education institutions, 8 "211 Project" universities and colleges, and 3 "985 Project" universities and colleges; 46 master cultivation institutions, 334 doctor stations, 826 master stations; 40 private higher education institutions, more than 800,000 university students; 249 secondary specialized schools, and 178 national- and provincial-level key technical training schools. Xi'an has 47 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. There are 650,000 professionals of various types, including 250,000 professionals majoring in electronic information major, with top density among Chinese cities. The strength of the city's regular higher education institutions ranks third in China, while the scale and strength of its civilian-run higher education institutions rank first in China. Abundant scientific and technological talent resources and scientific and technological development support service can be provided to the enterprises in the high-tech zone.

Xi'an is the key talent distributing center in West China, with a large, stable supply of high talents. Compared to other major cities in China, Xi'an has relatively a low salary level and living cost. Compared to coastal cities, Xi'an has an obvious human cost advantage in a long term. R&D talents in Xi'an have good stability and low mobility.