Registration has opened for local emerging-industry enterprises to enter the Zhuhai Division of the 9th China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition.

Competitions begin in August with a prize pool offered of more than 6 million yuan ($847,800). First-prize in the national finals is 1 million yuan ($141,300) and second- and third-place winners will receive 500,000 yuan ($70,650). First-prize grants in provincial and municipal divisions are 500,000 yuan and 300,000 yuan ($42,390) respectively, and other high scorers will receive 200,000 yuan ($28,260).

Applicants should be non-listed enterprises (except those listed on the New OTC Market) registered in Zhuhai as of Jan 1, 2010 and have documented operating revenue of up to 200 million yuan ($28 million) in 2019 with strong innovation capability and high growth potential.

In addition, they must be engaged in hi-tech product R&D, manufacture, and services in the strategic emerging industries of: new-generation information technology, biology, high-end equipment manufacture, new materials, new energy, new-energy automobiles, and energy conservation and environment protection.

2019 session [File photo]

Applicants must submit information at www.cxcyds.com before July 24 and materials before July 31. More details are provided on WeChat account zhuhaippc.

For the first time, the Zhuhai National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Tangjiawan) Administrative Committee will join the Science & Technology Innovation Bureau as organizers, and the Hi-Tech Zone's Jingniuhui Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition (Enterprise Group) will be included.

The Hi-Tech Zone will give an additional award equal to the municipal prize money to local enterprises receiving first, second, and third prizes in national finals, and half the municipal prize money amount to first-prize winners in provincial and municipal divisions.

In addition, outstanding enterprises will be commended to Zhuhai Science & Technology Venture Capital, and Zhuhai Science & Technology Angel and Talent Innovation & Entrepreneurship funds, as well as Angel Investment and Innovation Development Investment funds of the National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. Enterprises may also be loaned up to 3 million yuan ($423,900) from banks cooperating with the event and be prioritized by Zhuhai Science & Technology Credit Risk Compensation.

The Tsinghua Innovation Center in Zhuhai, Zhuhai Fudan Innovation Institute, Zhuhai Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Zhuhai Institute of Modern Industrial Innovation of South China University of Technology will take part to foster industrial-academic-research-investment cooperation.

Since its inception in 2016, the Zhuhai division has attracted 1,092 participants, 28 of which received awards in national finals and 107 in provincial finals. Zhuhai Science & Technology Venture Capital, a wholly own subsidiary of Huafa Group, has so far invested 90 million yuan ($13 million) in standouts.