From May 27to 29, the 5th Shanghai Global Talents Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition took place at the Academicians Hall Shanghai. This major event, championed by Shanghai, offers entrepreneurs a stage to spark new ideas and has become a key driver for boosting innovation in Yangpu and lifting the city's overall innovation level.

Global Elite Fuels Innovative Vitality

This year's preliminary in Yangpu drew 485 top-tier talent entries from across the world. These entries spanned diverse fields such as future intelligence, high-end equipment manufacturing, IT, green and low carbon, healthcare, and cultural creativity, showcasing the event's high caliber and rich variety. Following stringent screening, 82 exceptional entries made it to the roadshow phase.

With 70% of teams having overseas backgrounds and over 80% of contestants holding master's degrees or above, this competition is truly a showcase of global talents. Elite research teams from world-class universities like Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge brought their latest innovations to the table. Their international vision, state-of-the-art ideas, and innovative thinking have injected a strong dose of global flair and innovation into the event.

Bian Yihao, a Ph.D. student at Tongji University and the leader of the "Future-oriented H2O+ Direct Drinking Water" project, which focuses on quality direct drinking water solutions for secondary water supply, shared his experience. He noted, "In the previous competitions, I mostly faced off against classmates and peers. But in this competition, I'm sharing the stage with industry experts and mentors. It's a great honor, and I'm eager to connect with them on a deeper level."

Empowering Innovation through "Four-Chain" Integration

A standout feature of this competition is its dual selection process combining preliminary review and roadshow. The "super jury" includes CTOs from leading companies, partners from renowned investment institutions, and directors of university research institutes. Xiao Ke, a judge, explained that the assessment will cover technological innovation, commercial value, social impact, core team strength, current progress, and future potential.

"We look at the industrial prospects and technical viability of these entries, as well as their potential for massive application. We also check if they can handle risks and if investors are interested. Our goal is to pick projects that have the most potential and value, so we can give our district’s innovation a real boost," Xiao explained.

The competition is a key milestone in Yangpu's innovation ecosystem, driving the integration of four critical chains: talent leadership, technological innovation, industrial development, and financial support. "This is just the start," said a head of the Yangpu Bureau of Talent Affairs. "We're creating a cycle where competitions attract, nurture, and unite talents. We want to turn great ideas into reality and help the next 'unicorn' emerge right here in our district."

As global talents converge with Yangpu's "four-chain" integration strategy, the innovation potential of this people's city is being reshaped. Shifting from a "battle for talents" to sustainable talent development, Yangpu is leveraging competitions to attract global innovation resources.

Next, Yangpu will open its doors even wider to welcome global talents, providing them with vast opportunities and top-tier environments for innovation and entrepreneurship. The district aims to nurture the seeds of innovation, helping them grow and flourish in its rich soil.