Zhuhai innovation-entrepreneurship face-off looms

The application deadline is June 30 for innovation and entrepreneurship projects to enter the Zhuhai division of the "Maker in Guangdong" SME Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition.

More than 565,000 yuan ($81,750) in prize money is at stake.

In addition to local entries, more than 20 high-quality Hong Kong and Macao projects are expected. The preliminary contest on July 2 will screen out 15 under each of the Maker and Enterprise categories for the next round, and the final is slated July 18.

Notably, more than 40 incubators, maker spaces, industrial associations, leading enterprises, venture capital institutions, and universities and colleges have pledged resources to help out.

Launch ceremony [Photo courtesy nanfangplus]

The event is sponsored by the Guangdong Province Departments of Industry & Information Technology and of Finance, Zhuhai Industry & Information Technology Bureau, and Xiangzhou District People's Government. The Xiangzhou Science, Technology, Industry & Information Technology Bureau, and Xiangzhou SME Service Center will oversee it locally.

Last year saw 158 projects from emerging industries. Ten were recommended for the provincial-level competition and brought back a first, second, and third prizes. The contest has helped enterprises obtain combined financing of 96 million yuan ($14 million).

Zhuhai Resproly Bio Pharmaceutical, the first-prize winner last year, has so far secured 50 million yuan ($7 million) in addition to industry, capital, technology, and market resources, board chairman Chen Yongqi revealed at the launch ceremony on June 5.