Original-innovation　talent　significantly　influences　a　nation’s　competitive　edge.　Consequently,　supportive　policies　towards　original-innovation　talents　are　critical　for　the　enhancement　of　national　innovation　governance.　This　study　utilised　a　Latent　Dirichlet　Allocation　(LDA)　model　to　conduct　a　comprehensive　analysis　of　the　development　and　evolution　of　334　original-innovation　talent　policies　enacted　in　China　from　1978　to　2022,　where　we　scrutinised　the　features　and　progression　of　China’s　original-innovation　talent　policies　and　recapitulated　the　course　of　their　maturation.　Semantic　analysis　was　employed　to　pinpoint　the　keyword　characteristics　of　these　policies,　while　the　LDA　model　was　utilised　to　extract　relevant　information,　study　the　evolution　of　topic　intensity,　and　dissect　the　fluctuation　of　topic　intensity　across　various　periods.　The　results　indicated　that　China’s　original-innovation　talent　policies　have　metamorphosed　in　alignment　with　the　nation＇s　development　objectives,　which　now　focus　predominantly　on　the　support　of　breakthroughs　in　key　core　technologies　and　basic　research.　The　paper　concludes　with　suggestions　for　strengthening　the　top-level　design　of　policies,　optimising　incentive　policies,　and　creating　a　supportive　environment　for　original　innovation.　©　2023　Informa　UK　Limited,　trading　as　Taylor　&　Francis　Group.