The 5th Global New Material Startups Contest, organized by Ningbo government, goes to Germany for new material projects June 27. [Photo by Zhang Mingming/zjol.com.cn]

A total of 12 European projects went head to head at the German division of 5th Global New Material Startups Contest in Berlin, Germany on June 27, in a bid to win financial and policy support from investors and government agencies of Ningbo, Zhejiang province.

The annual contest has been held since 2014 and has traveled to the United States, Japan and Germany for project recruitment. Over the past four years, it has attracted the participation of over 1,200 projects and more than 150 investment organizations.

It demonstrates the determination of Ningbo, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, in developing its new materials industry.

Germany is a strong manufacturing power in the world and the new materials sector is a foundation for the manufacturing industry. Choosing Germany as the European stop of the contest is good for developing further exchanges and cooperation in science and technology between China and Germany, according to the organizing committee.

In Germany, roadshows on projects from local colleges, universities and research institutes, including Technische Universität Berlin, were staged, and experts and investors from both China and Germany evaluated their performances. Five new material projects stood out from the 12 participants and won places for the next round.

Five new material projects stand out at the German division of 5th Global New Material Startups Contest in Berlin, Germany on June 27 and will compete with other projects from around the world. [Photo by Zhang Mingming/zjol.com.cn]