UK Hosts Xiamen Entrepreneurship Competition Finals

On December 16, the finals of the 2022 China Xiamen Overseas Entrepreneurship Competition (UK) were held at the University of Cambridge. The competition was guided by the Xiamen Torch Development Zone for High Technology Industries, and hosted by the Xiamen High-tech Entrepreneurship Center and JU-JU Business Consultancy UK.

Launched in August this year, the event was aimed at attracting talent for a wide range of industries. The judging panel consisted of professors from the University of Cambridge and other prestigious institutions, as well as senior executives from prominent local venture capital firms and high-tech companies. The competition has attracted great attention and enthusiasm from British student entrepreneurial teams and start-up companies from Germany, France, Italy, the United States, Australia and other countries. Of the 72 submitted projects, 18 made it to the final round, including five from the information technology industry, eight from the artificial intelligence and intelligent manufacturing industry, and five from the biomedical industry. The Cambridge team was awarded the top prize. Participants from UK universities, associations and those in the sci-tech fields attended the finals of the competition

Jiang Sunan, Minister Counsellor for Science and Technology at the Chinese Embassy in the UK, delivered opening remarks at the event. While Lai Jianzhou, Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of Xiamen Torch High-tech Zone, sincerely invited all participating talent to visit Xiamen to join hands in creating the future in his online speech. He said that the Xiamen Overseas Entrepreneurship Competition has attracted more and more overseas high-level talent, entrepreneurial teams and start-ups since the British competition was held. Xiamen and the Torch High-tech Zone will further increase policy support and landing docking services to provide a broader stage for talented individuals who go to Xiamen to pursue development. The representative of the Xiamen High-tech Entrepreneurship Center introduced how Xiamen is fostering talent development and talent-related policies, and sincerely invites outstanding British talent in the science and technology fields to go to Xiamen for business development.

Professor Teng Long from the University of Cambridge shared his personal experience on entrepreneurship, team building and financing projects. The two judges, Dr. Sun Wei, Chairman of Cambridge Chinese Community Center and Professor Wang Liliang from the Imperial College of Technology, spoke highly of the quality of the finalists and their level of talent.

Jully Wu, head of the UK division of the competition and Managing-Director of JU-JU Business Consultancy UK Ltd, said that 17 shortlisted teams have obtained the talent support policy qualification for starting a business in Xiamen by virtue of their excellent results. Eligible participating projects will also be included in the field investigation list of Xiamen's "Double Hundred Plan", and the talent entrepreneurship project reserve of the Torch High-tech Zone, which will receive generous policy support. She hoped the talented teams would use the Luchuang Future platform to implement more excellent entrepreneurial projects in Xiamen, and to promote exchanges and cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship between China and the UK.

Over the past six years, the Xiamen Overseas Entrepreneurship Competition's influence has continued to grow, and the competition area has gradually expanded to countries including the UK, Russia and Singapore, and has been widely recognized and actively participated in by overseas students and start-ups.

Group photo of winners, judges and other guests of the 6th China Xiamen Entrepreneurship Competition (UK Division). Credit: First Take Film

P project teams shortlisted for the finals conduct a roadshow in front of the expert judging panel. Credit: First Take Film

Professor Wang Liliang (right) of Imperial College of Technology presented the first prize trophy and bonus cheque to Chen Jian. Credit: First Take Film

Jully Wu, head of the UK division of the Xiamen Overseas Entrepreneurship Competition and Managing-Director of JU-JU Business Consultancy UK Ltd, delivered a speech. Credit: First Take Film