193 finalists compete at innovation and entrepreneurship competition

A total of 193 industry finalists emerged from 610 domestic and international projects registered for the 13th Shenzhen Bao’an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and competed across five cutting-edge sectors at the Greater Bay Area New Technology and New Products Exhibition Center in Bao’an District on Aug. 6 and 7.

At the finals, the finalists were evaluated on their technological innovation, business models, and potential for industrialization. This year’s event drew 610 registered projects and featured a highly competitive array of new technologies and products.

Aligned with Bao’an’s strategic industrial layout, the competition featured five specialized tracks: artificial intelligence, high-end equipment manufacturing, life and health, new materials, and green and low-carbon. The high-end equipment manufacturing track focused on semiconductors and integrated circuits, while the green and low-carbon track covered new energy, new energy vehicles, and energy conservation. 

The artificial intelligence track emerged as the most competitive category, attracting 359 projects, or nearly 60% of all registrations. High-end equipment manufacturing and green and low-carbon followed with 72 and 71 entries, respectively, while life and health drew 55 projects and new materials attracted 53.

The competition has maintained a stable volume of over 600 applications for three consecutive years, with registrations reaching 605 in 2024, 601 in 2025, and 610 in 2026. Over the past 12 years, 348 award-winning projects have put down roots in Bao'an, with many transforming from early-stage startup teams into high-tech enterprises, specialized and sophisticated “little giant” enterprises, manufacturing champions, and publicly listed companies. 

Notable winners of the competition include industry leaders such as Insta360, Shokz, HAI ROBOTICS, EcoFlow, and DAHON. Insta360, a global leader in panoramic and action cameras, listed on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board (STAR Market) of the Shanghai Stock Exchange in June 2025, while DAHON, which won first prize in the 10th edition of the competition, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in September 2025.

The competition has served as a bridge connecting early-stage projects with capital, industry resources, and markets. For example, Daimon Robotics secured multiple rounds of funding totaling hundreds of millions of yuan from investors including Guozhong Capital, CMB International, Lenovo Capital, China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Merchants Venture during and after the competition. 

Depei Open Source Data secured 10 million yuan in seed funding from Cowin Capital during the event and subsequently settled in Bao’an. HAI ROBOTICS completed six rounds of financing totaling over 500 million yuan post-competition, growing into a global leader in autonomous case-handling robotic systems.

This year, project leaders who won third prize or above and meet specific criteria will be directly admitted to the Shenzhen Kunpeng Youth Innovation-Entrepreneurship Project Pool. Winning projects can also apply for up to 1.5 million yuan in policy support for innovation and entrepreneurship, while core members of national-level award-winning enterprises will be recommended for the Bao’an “Phoenix Talent” program.

To help startups overcome initial space constraints, winning projects will receive priority access to industrial carriers in Bao’an, including three to 12 months of low-cost office space and supporting startup services. Additionally, Bao’an plans to establish a green channel for selecting and allocating innovative industrial spaces to meet the immediate physical needs of newly settled projects.

The district will continue to organize events to connect winning projects with investment institutions, giving priority to recommending them to funds like the Shenzhen Capital Seed Fund, Cowin Seed Fund, and Bao’an Guidance Fund. Winning projects will also receive regular exhibition opportunities at the Greater Bay Area New Technology and New Products Exhibition Center as well as priority recommendations for participation in major trade shows like the China Hi-Tech Fair, ITES Shenzhen Industrial Exhibition, and BEYOND Expo in Macao, helping them secure clients, orders, and business partners.