On November 5, the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai. Since 2021, the CIIE has set up the Innovation Incubation Zone, providing a platform for small and micro enterprises from around the world to showcase their creativity and publicize their products in China, connecting them with China's capital market and helping them grow.

When it comes to innovation incubation, Yangpu District is undoubtedly a typical case. In order to continuously polish Yangpu's innovative development business card, at this year's event, Yangpu highlighted four enterprises to show themselves in the Innovation Incubation Zone, and continue to explore sustainable innovation. One of them is Venture Cup China, which has been present at the CIIE for four consecutive years.

Venture Cup China is an international service platform for innovation and entrepreneurship that specializes in the operation of international competitions of innovation and entrepreneurship, exchanges in science and technology innovation, helping overseas enterprises connect with China, and accelerating the understanding of Chinese science and technology enterprises in the target market to explore overseas resources. Relying on a global network of universities and partners, it focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the areas of green and low carbon, medical science and technology, agricultural science and technology, and digitalization.

On November 6, Venture Cup China hosted the Greatest Market Potential Award Semifinal for the Green and Low Carbon Track in the Innovation and Incubation Zone of the 6th CIIE, where five outstanding green and low-carbon companies were selected to participate in the on-site roadshow and compete for the championship, further enhancing the influence of the companies.

In order to continue to respond to the international cooperation policies on innovation and entrepreneurship in Yangpu District, Venture Cup China will hold the 2023 Sino-Nordic Sustainable Cooperation Forum & the 8th Shanghai Yangpu Startups Competition Launch Ceremony and the University Startup World Cup Global Finals 2023 Global Final on November 7 and 8 during the CIIE. These two highly influential international events were the highlights in the Innovation and Incubation Zone, attracting many exhibitors and professional visitors to make appointments and participate in them.

The delegation of Venture Cup China at this year's CIIE consists of more than 70 outstanding science and innovation companies from 14 countries/regions. They cover a wide range of industries such as healthcare, green energy, artificial intelligence, service trade, industrial technology and sustainable development.

Can an artificial heart completely replace a diseased natural heart? How to reduce the incidence of neonatal jaundice? How can sign language translation software eliminate communication barriers for hearing-impaired patients? In the exhibition area of Venture Cup China in the North Hall of the National Exhibition and Convention Center, these questions, which are closely related to our daily lives but have technological blind spots, can be answered professionally.

Linking new tracks and bringing in quality overseas companies

This year, the delegation of Venture Cup China has been expanded to include dozens of outstanding overseas startups, aiming to further promote the cooperation and exchange between domestic and overseas science and technology enterprises by taking advantage of the platform of the CIIE. In addition to the five Nordic countries, there are also enterprises from Brazil, Singapore and other countries.

Realheart® TAH developed by Scandinavian Real Heart from Sweden for the treatment of advanced heart failure can completely replace the diseased natural heart; E3A Healthcare from Singapore focuses on innovative medical devices in the field of maternal and child health, and its YSJ-20 smart neonatal jaundice meter has entered more than 120 hospitals and served tens of thousands of families every year since it was launched in 2022. The "humAld" project of the University of Southern Denmark has developed a type of sign language translation software for the deaf, which eliminates communication barriers through the use of artificial intelligence and camera technology directly on the user's smart phone or personal computer.

In the Green Track, Magic Power from Poland, which specializes in one-stop solutions for clean energy, and Fresh Air Company from Denmark, whose indoor air quality monitor utilizes Switzerland's most advanced carbon dioxide sensor technology and is made of 100% recycled plastic... These companies' new technologies and products were also featured in the Green Track. The new technologies and products of these companies released their scientific and technological "energy" on the international stage of the CIIE.

Focusing on "sustainability" and building the "Belt and Road" together

Since its establishment in Yangpu, Venture Cup China has been working closely with Yangpu District to create a "sustainable" incubation cycle for high-quality startups by attracting high-quality Nordic companies to Yangpu and connecting with high-quality science and technology innovation companies as well as related funds and ventures. In recent years, Venture Cup China has been committed to promoting international science and innovation exchanges and assisting overseas science and innovation projects to connect with the Chinese market.

In order to further promote the exchange of science and innovation and the settlement of talents in Yangpu, Venture Cup China has held a number of activities in cooperation with Yangpu District. This year, we have organized the Yangpu (Northern Europe) Future Entrepreneurs Roundtable and International Science and Innovation Cooperation Forum, Yangpu (Brazil) Future Entrepreneurs Roundtable, and Yangpu-Denmark Science and Innovation Economic and Trade Roundtable, etc., which have achieved positive results.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the framework of the Belt and Road, China and Europe have further deepened their cooperation and exchanges, forming a strong economic symbiosis. Talking about how to make use of the Belt and Road platform to further develop cooperation and exchanges, Shi Gongyi, Project Manager of Venture Cup China, told the reporter, "In the future, Venture Cup China will make full use of the Belt and Road Digital Economy Construction Platform to further develop international cooperation and exchanges through the incubation of innovation and entrepreneurship, the introduction of international talents, the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and cultural and educational exchanges, so as to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results. At the same time, we will also help domestic and foreign startups to promote their brands and increase their exposure through the combination of the digital economy platform and the international competition of innovation and entrepreneurship, so that they can improve their visibility and influence, and increase the opportunities for multi-bilateral economic and trade cooperation and exchanges."

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Yangpu's innovative development, and innovation is the first driving force of Yangpu. At this year's CIIE, Yangpu trading sub-group focuses on the whole chain of innovation "from 0 to 10", and continuously empowers innovative development. Next, Yangpu will continue to work with Venture Cup China, make use of the spillover effect of the CIIE, gather resources, and join hands with all parties to share development opportunities and create a better future.