The 8th Yuyao–Hemudu Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition, together with the Yuyao division of the 3rd AI Ningbo Challenge: Empowering Industries with AI, organized by Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd., has begun accepting entries from across the globe, inviting innovators and technology specialists worldwide to participate.
This event is designed to function as a link between advanced technologies and top-tier talent, establishing a full-chain support system that combines skilled people, industry, and capital. It aims to promote better alignment between talent and sector needs while fueling strong momentum for Yuyao’s high-quality growth.
Project submissions started immediately and will be accepted until September 15. The competition aligns closely with Yuyao’s “2+4+X” modern industrial system, concentrating on areas where artificial intelligence intersects with manufacturing. Tracks within the competition cover embodied intelligent robots, intelligent connected vehicles, smart consumer products, AI chips, intelligent sensing, intelligent software, and other nascent industries. A special focus will be placed on hard-tech innovation projects involving hardware infrastructure, data processing, and algorithmic models.
Alongside matching projects to suitable industry tracks, the competition will sort entries based on their development stage. Three categories have been set up: the Growth Group, the Startup Group, and the OPC Group. These are aimed at established projects older than two years, early-stage teams formed within the last two years, and small or micro startups led by individual shareholders, respectively. This tiered method is intended to help entrepreneurs at different points in their development find the proper platform for their concepts.
“The competition is open to applicants worldwide. Applicants must be no older than 60, hold at least a master’s degree (except for the OPC Group), have relevant work experience, and plan to establish or have already established a business in Yuyao within the past two years,” said a representative of the organizing committee.
Candidates must serve as the legal representatives or actual controllers of their enterprises, and ownership of the intellectual property supporting their projects must be clearly defined. Notably, for high-quality projects that possess core technologies and can effectively address gaps in the local industrial chain, Yuyao will set up a dedicated green channel and may, when appropriate, relax criteria such as academic qualifications. The city’s adaptable approach to drawing talent demonstrates its strong desire to attract top minds from across the world.
The competition will proceed through a series of tightly scheduled phases. A preliminary review is set for mid-to-late September, followed by three regional contests in Beijing, Shenzhen, and the Yangtze River Delta (the latter held online), running from late September to early October. The grand final and awards ceremony will occur in Yuyao in mid-to-late October.
The prize package is also substantial. Each category will offer a Grand Prize, First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize, and an OPC Development Potential Award, each accompanied by corresponding cash rewards.
Beyond cash prizes, the competition provides extensive support to help winning projects establish themselves and expand in Yuyao. After evaluation, winning projects may be recommended for inclusion in the “Sci-Tech Innovation Yaojiang” program, where they could receive up to 10 million yuan in support through an “evaluation through competition” mechanism. Eligible projects may also be given priority for direct entry into the final of the 3rd AI Ningbo Challenge in 2026.
Once projects begin operations in Yuyao, Shungong Group will prioritize investment opportunities and assist in connecting them with financing and guarantee services such as “Yaochuang Loan.” The objective is to ensure that promising projects obtain the funding and resources they need, transforming innovative ideas into reality.
The application channel is now fully live on the official website. Applicants can log in via a computer, select the “AI Ningbo” application portal, choose Yuyao as the destination city, and complete their applications.
“We hope to use the competition as a starting point to attract more outstanding talent from China and abroad to discover Yuyao, visit Yuyao and build their careers here,” the organizers said. “We want to bring global expertise and Yuyao’s manufacturing capabilities into closer integration, enabling entrepreneurs and the city to grow together.”
Contact Information
Company Name: Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd.
Introduction to Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd.
Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd. was established in July 2020 and is one of the five directly affiliated state-owned enterprise platforms of the Yuyao Municipal People’s Government. Aligning with its strategic positioning as a “comprehensive service provider for industrial upgrading,” the Group focuses on four core business areas: industrial investment, park construction, financial services, and value-added services. It is fully dedicated to promoting the sustained and healthy development of Yuyao’s industrial economy and actively contributes to building a modern, vibrant, and renowned city of excellence.
Website: https://rcgc.nbrc.com.cn/ds/2026/
Xu Shishi
Ningbo Shungong Group Co., Ltd.
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