Talent Teams Gather In Xiamen For The Grand Final Of The 2026 Fujian Global Innovation And Entrepreneurship Competition

Xiamen, China – September 7, 2026 – From Cambridge to Los Angeles, Moscow to São Paulo, waves of innovation spanning three key tracks are converging on Fujian province in southeast China. The final round of the 2026 Fujian Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was officially launched in Xiamen, Fujian province on September 6, two days before the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), with 114 finalist teams vying for top honors. Focus on industrial tech innovation Aligned with Fujian's '555X' industrial cluster strategy, this year's competition features three tracks: Electronic Information, Biotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing. It drew 1,756 project applications from 53 countries and regions, 90% of which came from developed economies overseas. A total of 1,188 projects entered the selection pool, with nearly 70 % led by PhD holders. Following expert review and recommendation, 114 projects advanced to the finals, targeting cutting-edge technological frontiers. AI-themed projects span large language models, embodied intelligence and spatial computing, aiming to empower equipment manufacturing, healthcare, smart cities, and more. Integrated circuit projects cover chip design, manufacturing, packaging and testing, and semiconductor equipment, pursuing deployments in AI chips, optoelectronic displays and connected vehicles. Biotechnology projects focus on AI-driven pharmaceuticals, brain-computer interfaces, gene editing and cell therapy, highlighting the growing integration of AI and biology. Beyond the blueprint: From lab to market If technological innovation is moving 'from zero to one', industrialization is going 'from one to one hundred'. During preliminary evaluations, experts repeatedly noted that a number of projects have crossed the so-called 'valley of death'. 29.8 % of selected projects have been carried out by existing enterprises and achieved industrial-scale applications. For instance, a Singapore-based project on chip application verification, testing equipment and systems has generated around 40 million yuan in revenue, while a Hong Kong-based project on in-vehicle full-color Micro-LED high-dynamic intelligent displays has entered factory commissioning. Among non-incorporated projects, 30 % have reached the pilot-scale stage and are actively seeking large-scale application scenarios. 'In the past, when we reviewed overseas startup competition entries, they often remained stuck in the lab or on paper. This competition feels different: many teams come with actual products, partnership proposals and even revenue figures,' commented a preliminary-round judge. Notably, teams showed strong willingness to set up operations locally. Over 160 preliminary-round projects have put forward concrete cooperation proposals, such as joint development of solid-state batteries with Xiamen Tungsten New Energy and Hithium Energy Storage, and validation of new display technologies with Sitan Integrated Circuit, looking forward to business-to-business and university-industry cooperation. This has turned the competition into a true 'connector' between scientific and technological achievements and industrial applications. Open up new channels for talent recommendation For the first time, this year's competition introduced a 'talent-recommends-talent' channel. Qualified candidates recommended by national-level talents can gain direct access to the final round. One such dedicated talent spotter is Qiu Chengfeng, a national talent program expert and co-founder of Sitan Tech. As a tech entrepreneur who has been engaged in Micro-LED display technology for more than two decades, Qiu holds a special affection for Xiamen. In 2022, Sitan Tech settled in Xiamen Torch Development Zone for High Technology Industries, and two years later, its mass-production line for Micro-LED silicon-based bonding was officially put into operation. 'Xiamen boasts unique advantages in the new-display industry—from raw materials to end-use applications to production, the ecosystem is remarkably complete,' Qiu once remarked. Today, Sitan has grown into a national-level 'little giant' enterprise specializing in Micro-LED, reinforcing Qiu's commitment to sourcing talent for the city. Thanks to his matchmaking, three Ph.D. holders and postdoctoral researchers from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) joined the competition. 'The competition is fierce. Even with the 'through train', we still need thorough preparation,' said one postdoctoral contestant from HKUST's State Key Laboratory of Displays and Optoelectronics. Besides talent-driven referrals, the competition also leverages an 'institutional recommendation' channel to identify talents. The Zhongke Incubation Centre, jointly established by the Institute of Urban Environment and the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has recommended multiple high-quality projects led by foreign talents from BRICS countries. This helps reduce the costs of connecting with international talents and builds up a pipeline of high-tech projects to accelerate the development of the BRICS Science and Technology Innovation Incubation Park in Fujian and Xiamen. Tailored services for a win–win partnership This year, the organizing committee has further advanced a market-oriented, professional approach to event management, fully leveraging the integrated strengths of Xiamen Torch Group as a technology innovation service platform. Finalists will have access to a full suite of services—including concept validation, incubation, investment and financing, and application-scenario matching. During the finals, the committee will hold supporting activities including site visits to industrial parks, investor matchmaking sessions, and industry-scenario workshops—all designed to help participants see that they are not just joining a competition, but forging ties with Fujian and plugging into the province's extensive innovation network, laying a solid foundation for future development in Fujian. Undoubtedly, the 114 finalist projects will receive heightened attention, but the competition's broader network embraces all 1,756 registered participants. True to its guiding spirit—'Make Fujian your land of opportunity'—the committee will continue to serve as a bridge for every contestant, combining precision and warmth in its innovation services to foster a genuine, two-way journey between talent and Fujian. About Grand Final of the 2026 Fujian Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition Aligned with Fujian's '555X' industrial cluster strategy, this year's competition features three tracks: Electronic Information, Biotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing. It drew 1,756 project applications from 53 countries and regions, 90% of which came from developed economies overseas. Media Contact Company Name: Fu Jian Talent Contact Person: Shi Yi Sun Email: Send Email Country: China Website: https://www.fujiantalent.com