The exterior of the Grand Union of Innovation, located in the Hefei high-tech zone. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The global partners of the Grand Union of Innovation, or GUI – the tech hub located in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province – met on Jan 25 at the administrative committee of the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone to discuss their work plans for 2024.

Wu Hailong, chairman of the Grand Union of Innovation Service Platform Co Ltd and Ding Qimin, director of the Hefei High-tech Zone Science and Technology Bureau, attended.

Global partners of the GUI made presentations on their progress to date and their plans for the year.

Wu Hailong emphasized the importance of clarifying priorities and goals for 2024 and leveraging their own strengths in resources, industries and in innovation services.

Wu called on the partners to boost their local team building, ensure the quality of projects being brought in and enhance collaboration and resource sharing.

Wu also proposed that the partners should accelerate their complementary advantages in capital empowerment and innovation services.

For his part, Ding praised the partners for their achievements in project sourcing and attraction, funds formation and platform building.

Ding also set out the requirements for the partners in 2024:

- To focus on a variety of projects – including innovative enterprise projects, technology talent projects and projects in future industries – and promote the signing of agreements between the projects and the Hefei high-tech zone.

- To promote social funds to invest in companies in the GUI.

- To strengthen cooperation with the GUI fund and with seed and angel funds from the provincial, municipal, and district governments, as well as boost investment coordination and project information sharing.

- To provide comprehensive support for projects, including equity counseling, intellectual property applications and offline startup salons.