Innovation-entrepreneurship contests get under way

The Zhuhai division of the 7th China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition opened on May 23 with an increased prize pool of 4 million yuan ($626,744) and is held at just the right time to attract the talents most favored by the city.

The China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition has proceeded smoothly for six years since 2012 as the highest-level, most-influential, and most popular such contest in the country. It is held under the auspices of the ministries of Science & Technology, Finance, and Education; Cyberspace Administration of China, and All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce.

This is the third time for Zhuhai to host a division; and 70 out of 673 companies emerged as standouts during the previous two events. Eleven won national awards and 59 teams earned provincial medals, an accomplishment ranking high across the province. Past winners include Oceanalpha (Yunzhou Intelligent Technology), a domestically leading R&D enterprise and supplier of unmanned civil ships; and Zhuhai 4D Age Technology, a pioneer in 3D modeling and printing.

This year's event coincides with a similar city-level competition and is running on a larger scale.

Zhuhai is generous with prize money as it aspires to attract competent professionals and highly innovative individuals in support of new-round development.

First-prize winners will take home 500,000 yuan ($78,343) each, while the teams in the second and third ranks will receive 300,000 yuan ($47,006) and 200,000 yuan ($31,337) respectively. Recipients of other awards such as Excellent Enterprises will get 50,000 yuan ($7,834) each.

The rewards come with substantial support, especially in financing for small and medium-sized sci-tech startups in Zhuhai.

Moreover, the organizing committee states that outstanding technical R&D and management young talents may be eligible for 200,000 yuan ($31,337) each. Furthermore, leaders of the first three entrants into the national China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition and of winners of provincial-level competitions will be directly accredited as third-tier high-caliber talent so they can enjoy preferential treatment.

For specifics about the Zhuhai Talent Program visit http://subsites.chinadaily.com.cn/zhuhai/2018-04/26/c_222003.htm.