The 8th Yuyao–Hemudu Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition Opens Global Call for Entries

ZHEJIANG, CHINA, August 31, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The 8th Yuyao–Hemudu Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition, alongside the Yuyao division of the 3rd AI Ningbo Challenge: Empowering Industries with AI, organized by Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd., has officially launched its global call for entries, inviting entrepreneurs and tech talents from around the world to take part.

The competition aims to serve as a bridge connecting cutting-edge technologies with high-caliber talent, creating a full-chain support mechanism integrating talent, industry and capital. It seeks to foster closer alignment between talent and industry and inject strong momentum into Yuyao’s high-quality development.

Project submissions opened immediately and will remain open until Sept. 15. The competition is closely aligned with Yuyao’s “2+4+X” modern industrial system, focusing on key areas where artificial intelligence intersects with manufacturing. Competition tracks include embodied intelligent robots, intelligent connected vehicles, smart consumer products, AI chips, intelligent sensing, intelligent software and other emerging industries. Particular emphasis will be placed on hard-tech innovation projects involving hardware infrastructure, data processing and algorithmic models.

In addition to matching projects with appropriate industry tracks, the competition will classify entries according to their stage of development. Three categories have been established: the Growth Group, the Startup Group and the OPC Group. They target mature projects that have been established for more than two years, early-stage teams established within the past two years, and small and micro startups led by individual shareholders, respectively. This tiered approach is designed to ensure that entrepreneurs at different stages of development can find the right platform for their ideas.

“The competition is open to applicants worldwide. Applicants must be no older than 60, hold at least a master’s degree (except for the OPC Group), have relevant work experience, and plan to establish or have already established a business in Yuyao within the past two years,” said a representative of the organizing committee.

Applicants must be the legal representatives or actual controllers of their enterprises, and ownership of the intellectual property underpinning their projects must be clearly established. Notably, for high-quality projects that possess core technologies and can effectively address gaps in the local industrial chain, Yuyao will establish a dedicated green channel and may, where appropriate, relax requirements such as academic qualifications. The city’s flexible approach to attracting talent reflects its strong desire to bring in top minds from around the world.

The competition will move forward through a series of tightly scheduled stages. A preliminary review will be held in mid-to-late September, followed by three regional competitions in Beijing, Shenzhen and the Yangtze River Delta, with the latter held online, from late September to early October. The grand final and awards ceremony will take place in Yuyao in mid-to-late October.

The prize package is equally generous. Each category will offer a Grand Prize, First, Second and Third Prizes, as well as an OPC Development Potential Award, accompanied by corresponding cash prizes.

Beyond the cash awards, the competition also offers comprehensive support to help winning projects take root and grow in Yuyao. Following evaluation, winning projects may be recommended for inclusion in the “Sci-Tech Innovation Yaojiang” program, under which they may receive up to 10 million yuan in support through an “evaluation through competition” mechanism. Eligible projects may also be given priority for direct entry into the final of the 3rd AI Ningbo Challenge in 2026.

Once projects establish operations in Yuyao, Shungong Group will give priority consideration to investment opportunities and help connect them with financing and guarantee services such as “Yaochuang Loan.” The goal is to ensure that promising projects have access to the funding and resources they need, turning innovative ideas into reality.

The application channel is now fully open on the official website. Applicants can log in via a computer, select the “AI Ningbo” application portal, and choose Yuyao as the designated destination city to complete their applications.

“We hope to use the competition as a starting point to attract more outstanding talent from China and abroad to discover Yuyao, visit Yuyao and build their careers here,” the organizers said. “We want to bring global expertise and Yuyao’s manufacturing capabilities into closer integration, enabling entrepreneurs and the city to grow together.”

Contact Information

Company Name: Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd.
Introduction to Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd.
Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd. was established in July 2020 and is one of the five directly affiliated state-owned enterprise platforms of the Yuyao Municipal People’s Government. Aligning with its strategic positioning as a “comprehensive service provider for industrial upgrading,” the Group focuses on four core business areas: industrial investment, park construction, financial services, and value-added services. It is fully dedicated to promoting the sustained and healthy development of Yuyao’s industrial economy and actively contributes to building a modern, vibrant, and renowned city of excellence.

Website: https://rcgc.nbrc.com.cn/ds/2026/

Xu Shishi
Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd.
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