1. How can participants register for the competition?

Eligible participants can register on the official website of the China (Shenzhen) Innovation and Entrepreneurship International Competition (www.itcsz.cn). The official website is the only valid registration channel; registrations via other channels are not accepted. Participants should register either through the respective overseas divisions or directly via the official competition website, according to their situation. The same participant and project can only be registered through one channel and cannot be submitted multiple times.

2. What are the participation requirements?

1. Overseas high-level entrepreneurial teams or individuals with innovative achievements and a business plan.

2. Participants must not have registered a commercial entity in Shenzhen as a legal representative or shareholder, and plan to establish a company in Shenzhen or connect with Shenzhen-related industries after the competition.

3. The products, technologies, or related patents of the participating project must belong to the participant and be free of ownership disputes. Participants are responsible for any liability arising from infringement.

4. Participants or projects that have won awards in the first Shenzhen International Talent Competition or previous editions of the China (Shenzhen) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (including domestic and international editions) cannot participate in this edition again.

5. For teams including Chinese personnel with overseas study experience, at least one team member must meet one of the following criteria:

(1)  Hold a doctoral degree (domestic or abroad) and satisfy one of the following:

· Engaged in natural sciences or engineering, and after the PhD, worked in renowned overseas universities, research institutes, or enterprise R&D departments;

· Held senior positions in internationally recognized companies, or academic positions equivalent to associate professor or above in foreign universities or research institutions.

(2) Hold a master’s or higher degree obtained abroad, with overseas entrepreneurial experience or senior positions in internationally recognized companies, and satisfy one of the following:

· Possess internationally leading technological achievements or fill domestic gaps, with high product potential;

· Have independently developed innovative products with venture capital investment.

(3) Hold a bachelor’s or higher degree (domestic or abroad) and have worked for several years in overseas companies, having held senior technical positions at internationally recognized enterprises.

3. What are the competition fields?

Participating projects should align with Shenzhen’s industrial policies, have a high level of innovation and market competitiveness, generate potential economic and social benefits, and be high-tech outcomes suitable for emerging industries. Projects should have core technologies, full intellectual property rights, and high added value.

The competition is divided into seven major sectors: New Generation Electronic Information, Digital & Fashion, High-End Equipment Manufacturing, Green & Low-Carbon, New Materials, Biomedicine & Healthcare, and Marine Economy.

1. New-Generation Electronic Information
Focus on Networking & Communications, Semiconductors & Integrated Circuits, Ultra-High-Definition Video Display, Intelligent Terminals, Smart Sensors, Optical Information Transmission, Quantum Information, Cloud Services, and Cybersecurity.

2. Digit and Fashion
Focus on Software & Information Services, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Creativity, Modern Fashion, Digital Advertising, Streaming Video, and Video Games.

3. High-End Equipment Manufacturing
Focus on High-End Equipment & Instrumentation, Low-Altitude Economy & Aerospace, Robotics, Modular Construction, and Future Aviation Transportation.

4. Green and Low-Carbon
Focus on New Energy, Safety & Energy Conservation, Environmental Protection, Energy Storage Batteries, Intelligent & Connected Vehicles, New Energy Vehicles, and Shared Autonomous Vehicles.

5. New Materials
Focus on High-Performance Materials and New Frontier Materials.

6. Biological Medicine and Health
Focus on Biomedicine, High-End Medical Devices, Comprehensive Health, Synthetic Biology, Cell & Gene Technologies, Neuroscience & Brain-Computer Engineering, and Industrial & Consumer Biotechnology.

7. Marine Economy
Focus on Marine Exploration, Deep-Earth and Deep-Sea Exploration.

4. What is the registration deadline for the 10th Shenzhen Int'l Innovation Competition?

August 31, 2026.

5. Who can deliver the project pitch?

Participants who deliver the roadshow in the division finals or subsequent rounds must be core project members listed on the registration form on the official website (www.itcsz.cn).

6. Can previous award winners participate again?

Participants or projects that have won awards in the first Shenzhen International Talent Competition or in any previous editions of the China (Shenzhen) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (including domestic and international editions)  cannot participate in this edition again.

7. Are there any fees to participate in the international edition?

No fees are charged to participate in the competition.

8. After submitting registration, when will participants compete?

·    Registration: May – August 2026

·    Overseas Divisions & APEC Invitational: Late September 2026

·    Industry Finals: Late November 2026

·    Grand Final: Early December 2026