The 10th China (Shenzhen) Innovation and Entrepreneurship International Competition is aimed at overseas entrepreneurs and teams with innovative projects that may connect with Chinese industries and potentially establish a business in Shenzhen. It is organized by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and includes international divisions in 12 cities, as well as an APEC invitational competition.

Key dates

• Application deadline: August 31, 2026
• Overseas Division and APEC competitions: Late September 2026
• Industry Finals: Late November 2026
• Grand Final in Shenzhen: Early December 2026

Exact dates may change and should be confirmed on the official website.

Eligibility

Applicants should be overseas entrepreneurial teams or individuals with:

• Innovative achievements and a business plan
• Ownership of the project’s technology, products, and patents
• No intellectual property disputes
• Plans to establish a company in Shenzhen or connect with Shenzhen-related industries
• No existing commercial entity registered in Shenzhen in which the participant is a legal representative or shareholder

Projects that won awards in previous editions of this competition, or in the first Shenzhen International Talent Competition, are not eligible to enter again.

Additional academic and professional requirements apply to teams that include Chinese members with overseas study or work experience.

Industry categories

The competition covers seven areas:

1. New-Generation Electronic Information
2. Digital and Fashion
3. High-End Equipment Manufacturing
4. Green and Low-Carbon
5. New Materials
6. Biological Medicine and Health
7. Marine Economy

These areas include artificial intelligence, semiconductors, robotics, clean energy, energy storage, intelligent vehicles, biotechnology, medical devices, neuroscience, and marine exploration.

Competition process

The competition has four main stages:

• Online application through the official registration system
• Overseas Division competitions
• Industry Finals
• Grand Final in Shenzhen

Presentations generally last 15 minutes:

• 8 minutes for the presentation
• 7 minutes for questions and answers

For Overseas Division finals, the presentation must be delivered in English, and the PowerPoint should include both Chinese and English subtitles.

Prize money

According to the prize table on page 16:

Grand Final

• First Prize: RMB 500,000, plus a possible Shenzhen business subsidy of up to RMB 1,000,000
• Second Prize: RMB 250,000, plus a possible subsidy of RMB 500,000
• Third Prize: RMB 150,000, plus a possible subsidy of RMB 300,000

Industry Finals

• First Prize: RMB 150,000
• Second Prize: RMB 100,000
• Third Prize: RMB 50,000

Overseas Division Finals and APEC Invitational

• First Prize: RMB 100,000
• Second Prize: RMB 50,000
• Third Prize: RMB 30,000

The total prize pool is RMB 9.42 million. More than 50 venture capital institutions are also involved in a combined investment fund of approximately RMB 5 billion.

Additional support

Selected projects may receive:

• Access to investors and public funding
• Incubator and industrial park opportunities
• Rent reductions or subsidies
• Training, mentoring, and business consulting
• Patent and talent recruitment support
• Financial services and specialized loans
• Technology, tax, housing, and venue support
• Visits and business-matching activities in Shenzhen

In some cases, the competition may cover travel expenses for invited participants visiting Shenzhen.

Important conditions

• The selected industry category cannot be changed after registration.
• The person delivering the presentation must be listed as a team member in the registration system.
• False information, intellectual property disputes, absence from required events, or failure to meet the rules may result in disqualification and loss of prizes and support.
• Prize payments are accepted only through accounts in RMB or US dollars.
• The competition may be photographed, recorded, livestreamed, or broadcast.
• The manual is for reference; official announcements take precedence.

Official website: www.itcsz.cn
Email: itcsz-service@qlmtalent.com