Abstract: Social think tank is an important part of new think tank with Chinese characteristics. Through the construction of talent mechanism, their innovation vitality and knowledge service ability can be enhanced. Based on the theory of innovation-driven development, this paper establishes an innovation-driven talent mechanism model of social think tanks combined with the talent mechanism research framework of social think tank, and analyzes the application of the model through network survey and case study. The innovation-driven talent mechanism model of social think tank is an organic network system, which is driven by four innovation elements: knowledge innovation, human capital innovation, institutional innovation, and cultural innovation, and is centered on talent flow, and formed by five constituent elements: talent flow, talent introduction, talent cultivation, talent use, talent evaluation and incentive. The application analysis shows that the talent mechanism of foreign social think tanks is relatively mature, and the four innovation elements can effectively drive the five constituent elements. Among them, knowledge innovation drives the cultivation of various professional talents, human capital innovation drives the improvement of the efficiency of various talents using, institutional innovation drives the enhancement of talent evaluation and incentive performance, and cultural innovation drives the introduction of diversified talents. The innovation elements also drive the talent flow to promote the interaction of the constituent elements, forming a talent mechanism for sustainable development. It is suggested that China’s social think tanks should apply the model and learn from foreign advanced experience to give full play to the four innovation elements, and promote the healthy development of the talent mechanism construction of new social think tank with Chinese characteristics.