Microsoft China launches an incubator called Kungfu in Zhangjiang High Tech Park, Shanghai's Pudong New Area on Nov 25. The center will focus on nurturing Internet of things-related startup projects. [Photo/Pudong Times]

Microsoft China launched a new incubator called Kungfu in Zhangjiang High-tech Park in Shanghai's Pudong New Area on Nov 25. The new center will focus on nurturing Internet of things-related startup projects.

Microsoft chose Zhangjiang as the venue for the incubator because the area houses many integrated circuit giants and leading system integration solution providers such as Honeywell International and General Electric, whose projects will need IoT technology, making them potential clients for the incubator's companies, explained Wang Lei, chief technology officer of the Beijing-based Microsoft Accelerator.

The 2,000-square-meter center aims to nurture more unicorn companies, newly-established firms with a market valuation of more than one billion dollars, and boost the development of high-tech industries in Zhangjiang.

Companies moving into the incubator can enjoy free work space, access to Microsoft's powerful cloud computing resources, and free Microsoft products such as Office and Dynamic CRM.

Technology resource sharing and training lectures by prestigious experts will also be launched both online and offline to support the companies' development.

A total of 12 startup teams have moved in the incubator so far, several of which made a splash in certain competitions.

Three of the teams stood out from more than 30 applicants from all over China at Microsoft's 1st Innovation Summit on Nov 4 and entered the final Top 10 competition.

Another team named Ruff won the first prize at a startup competition launched by the leading US technology media company TechCrunch on Nov 8.

Microsoft is not the only big name seeking cooperation with Zhangjiang. China's e-commerce giant Alibaba set up an innovation center in the area in October, and US incubator Plug&Play has also signed an agreement with Zhangjiang to set up a center in the High-tech Park in the near future.

Zhangjiang High-tech Park is a hotbed of technological innovation and entrepreneurship, and is designed to house of the world's top minds, high-tech enterprises and research institutions.

Nearly 20,000 companies are now located inside the park, most of which are startups working with core technologies. Zhengjiang's current focus is to give those technology startups support in capital, marketing, and talent recruitment.