On October 26, the finals and awards ceremony for the 13th China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Guangdong regional) and the 12th “Pearl River Angel Cup” Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition took place at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou).

According to the event organizers, this year’s competition saw nearly 2,000 participating companies engaged, thanks to proactive promotion by local tech systems and service agencies. The competition included activities such as pre-event training, evaluation through competition, post-event guidance, and financing connections, culminating in the selection of 200 outstanding companies that received various awards including first, second, and third place as well as excellence awards.

During the awards ceremony, Yang Jun, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, emphasized that the competition has brought together numerous excellent tech companies and forward-thinking investment institutions since its inception. He noted that it has cultivated a robust “science and technology innovation ecosystem” in Guangdong, where government, industry, academia, research, and finance are closely intertwined. This ecosystem has built a comprehensive service chain integrating industry, technology, and finance, promoting the development of new technologies, industries, and business formats. It has become a vital link in promoting the integration of technology with the economy, connecting scientific achievements with practical production capabilities, stabilizing market entities, expanding employment, and driving the transformation of energy sources and structural upgrades.

Statistics from the organizing committee indicate that over the past 11 years, the competition has attracted nearly 36,000 participating companies and mobilized approximately 40 billion yuan in investments from banks and venture capital. Notably, 30 participating companies have successfully gone public, including Yihang Intelligent, NuRui Radar, Yuncong Technology, and Fangbang Electronics.

Qu Shaobing, Secretary of the Party Committee at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), highlighted that the university has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, having nurtured and incubated successful companies like DJI, SenseTime, and Fourth Paradigm. He mentioned that the Guangzhou campus continues this legacy, actively promoting technology transfer and contributing to industrial development by becoming a core engine of the regional innovation ecosystem.

Qu elaborated on the various innovation and technology transfer policies the university has established. He noted the INNOTECH Innovation Carnival as a key initiative aimed at creating a platform for entrepreneurship projects, investment institutions, and industry partners to foster regional innovation. Furthermore, the university has established a technology transfer and transformation base that collaborates with local governments to promote the on-site conversion of scientific achievements, providing comprehensive support and services for entrepreneurial projects.

Xie Wei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Nansha Development Zone, underscored that hosting the finals in Nansha for the first time this year is a recognition of the zone’s advancements in technology and innovation. He mentioned that Nansha is currently focused on implementing the “Guangzhou Nansha Comprehensive Cooperation Plan with Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao,” enhancing the mutual promotion of technology and industry, and accelerating the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a hub for innovative growth.