Faced with the controversy over whether the talent plan motivates technology talents or triggers their eagerness for quick success and impatience, this article systematically reviews the characteristics of talent plans and the functional alienation issues that existed in the practical process. It constructs a theoretical model framework for technology talents’ motivation, uses national survey data and propensity score matching methods, analyse the net effect of talent plans on motivating high-level technology talents to achieve success. The results indicate that: (1) The characteristic of talent plans is to cultivate and improve the innovative research ability of talents, encouraging talents to freely explore and innovate fundamentally. However, there are problems in the implementation process, such as excessive use of policy tools, excessive inclination of salary and resources, and alienation of policy functions; (2) Moderate research funding support can help strengthen the achievement motivation of talents, while overemphasizing performance incentives may have a crowding out effect; (3)The incentive effect of being selected for the talent plan on the achievement motivation of high-level talents is significant. While continuing to promote the support methods of the talent plan, we should face the drawbacks and plan systematically.