南宁海智计划·海创大赛

Overseas talents and those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions of China, organizations and enterprises,

Nanning International Elite Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (hereinafter referred to as the Competition), first launched in 2018, aims to attract international talents (including those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions of China) to make innovation and start-up business in Nanning through projects screening, preliminaries both at home and abroad, final in Nanning and projects matchmaking. Apart from this, all-in-one services including funding support, matchmaking and offshore incubation is available for those who want to start up business and work in Nanning. Rewards are also granted to the recommending organizations/agencies. To accelerate the building of Nanning into an international metropolis open to cooperation with ASEAN countries, and to further promote innovation and entrepreneurship with the high-quality development of the city, we sincerely invite you to participate in the 2026 Nanning International Elite Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. Details of the competition are as follows:

1.Time of the Competition

March to September 2026

2.Hosting Organizations

Hosted by:

Talents Work Group of the Leading Group of Education, Science, Technology and Talents Work of the CPC Nanning Committee

Organized by:

Organization Department of the CPC Nanning Committee
Nanning Science and Technology Bureau
Nanning Industry and Information Technology Bureau
Nanning Foreign Affairs Office
Nanning Association for Science and Technology
Qingxiu District People’s Government of Nanning

Co-organizers:

PublicityDepartment of the CPC Nanning Committee
United Front Work Department of the CPC Nanning Committee
Financial Committee Office of the CPC Nanning Committee
Guangxi Nanning Wuxiang New District Planning and Construction AdministrationCommittee [Administration Committee of China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone Nanning Area ]
Nanning Development and Reform Commission
Nanning Finance Bureau
Nanning Human Resources and Social Security Bureau
Nanning Ecology and Environment Bureau
Nanning Administrationfor Market Regulation
Nanning Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau
Nanning Commerce Bureau
Nanning Administration of Culture, Broadcastand Tourism
Nanning Health Commission
Nanning Forestry Bureau
Nanning Medical Security Bureau
Nanning Investment Promotion Bureau
Nanning Data Bureau
State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commissionof Nanning Municipal People’s Government
Nanning Public Security Bureau
Communist Youth League Nanning Committee
Nanning Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese
Nanning Federation of Industry and Commerce

Enterprises Partners:

Nanning Industrial Investment Science and Technology Innovation Investment Co., Ltd.
Nanning Industrial Investment New Energy Vehicle Investment Co., Ltd.
Unified Investment Management Co., Ltd of Nanning Industry Investment Group
Nanning Investment Guidance Fund Co., Ltd.
Guangxi Guohou Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Qirong Venture Capital Co., Ltd.
Nanning Lihezijing Investment Co., Ltd.
Nanning Hengbang Tianshi Innovation Investment Partner Enterprises(Limited Partnership)

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Carriers:

Guangxi Zhongguancun Entrepreneurship and Innovation Talent Base
Nanning Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park
Guangxi High-end Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Demonstration Base
Nanning New Technology Entrepreneur Center
Nanning Qingda Coordinated Innovation Center
China-ASEAN New Smart City Collaborative Innovation Center
Lingli Industrial Park
Yongning Emerging Industrial Park
Qingxiu Innovation Center
LeaguerScience and Technology Innovation Nanning Center
Guangxi Shennengda Technology Enterprise Incubator
Wuxiang Incubator
TusStar (Nanning) Belt and Road Incubation Base
Nanning National Overseas Talent Offshore Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base
Menggonggu Science and Technology Business Incubator
New Industry Accelerator of Xingning District
Nanning Science and Technology Enterprise Incubation Base
Guangxi Lianxun U Valley Science and Technology Business Incubator

3.Fieldsand New Track Introduction

Artificial intelligence
New generation of electronic information
Critical metals
Newmaterials
New energy
Advancedequipment manufacturing
Low-altitude economy
Biomedicine and Health

In addition to the traditional industry-based tracks used in previous editions, this year’s competition has introduced a dedicated ASEAN AI track.

(1) AI Track

This track focuses on key technological breakthroughs in fields including large model development, efficient data processing, cross-border data security, and embodied AI; R&D of basic software and hardware as well as basic components such as chips, boards and sensors; R&D and application of algorithms, vertical-industry large models, and industry-domain intelligent agents; development of high-end industrial control systems and industrial intelligent agents, and R&D of key technologies for industrial control intelligent perception and security control; AI knowledge graph, intelligent perception and recognition technologies, multi-modal information fusion processing technologies; and AI scenario applications for ASEAN.

ASEAN AI Special Track

As a sub-track under the AI Track, this category is open to all AI sub-fields without restriction. Each participating project team must include at least one member who is a national of an ASEAN country.

(2) New-Generation Electronic Information, Critical Metals and New Materials Track

This track covers R&D and design of chips, advanced semiconductor packaging and testing technologies, R&D technologies for integrated circuit supporting materials, and technologies for semiconductor materials and devices such as silicon carbide, gallium nitride and antimonide, as well as new materials related to smart wearables, automotive electronics and new-type displays. The track focuses on the R&D, purification, intensive processing and back-end integrated industries of critical metals including lithium, gallium and rare earths, extending to their applications in new energy such as lithium carbonate, lithium iron phosphate, high-purity gallium, gallium nitride and permanent magnet materials, as well as new-generation information technology, robotics and major equipment material industries. It also includes high-end aluminum material manufacturing technologies and key technologies for the graded recycling of recycled aluminum.

(3) New Energy, High-End Equipment Manufacturing and Low-Altitude Economy Track

This track covers key technologies for new energy vehicles and the manufacturing industry of core components such as power batteries, motors and electronic controls; new-generation battery technologies including solid-state batteries, sodium-ion batteries and high-specific-energy lithium batteries, as well as battery recycling technologies. It includes R&D of smart manufacturing and engineering equipment products in rail transit, shipbuilding, environmental protection and sanitation, agricultural product processing and other fields. It also covers R&D of key low-altitude equipment technologies and products, as well as the application of equipment manufacturing in logistics and transportation, emergency rescue, agricultural and forestry plant protection, government services and other sectors.

(4) Biomedicine and Health Track

This track covers R&D of key technologies including new traditional Chinese and ethnic medicines, high-end medical devices, biotech drugs and AI-enabled drug discovery, as well as intelligent production of modern traditional Chinese medicine, high-value medical consumables, in vitro diagnostic reagents and high-end medical equipment. It also includes research and application of microorganisms in planting, breeding, specialty foods and beverages, as well as R&D of specialty flavor manufacturing, wet rice noodle processing and preservation technologies.

4.Eligibilityand Relevant Requirements

(1) Eligibility

a.At least one team member (including shareholders, senior management personnel or key technical staff) have work/study experience (one-year or above) in country/region outside Chinese mainland (Hong Kong, Macaoand Taiwan regions of China included) with promising innovative technologies, achievements or productswith independent intellectual property rights, can be commercialized and is willing to commercialize the technologies, achievements or products in Nanning within one year after the competition.

b. No limitation is set on business registration time for enterprise outside Nanning. For local enterprises of Nanning, only those whose owners are introduced and set up business in Nanning within the recent three years (on or after January 1, 2023) are eligible.

c.The project leader’s age is not more than 55 years old.

d.Participants of the project roadshow and project matchmaking session must be the team members as declared in the entry form.

e. For the ASEAN AI Special Track: At least one member of the project team shall hold the nationality of an ASEAN member state, which shall be verified by valid identity documents of the ASEAN member state held at the time of participation.

(2) Relevant Requirements

(1) Participating projects that conduct research and development focused on the technical fields of the competition tracks and provide corresponding solutions shall be granted certain additional points in the evaluation process.

(2) Those who entered the finals in the previous editions of the Competition, or Nanning Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competitions, or whose projects were funded by Nanning city-level shall not be eligible for entry.

(3) The competition project and its intellectual property rights shall be owned by the core members of the team, with no intellectual property disputes.

(4) If a contestant is found to have behaviors that do not meet the registration requirements or participate in multiple projects at the same time, once verified and confirmed by the competition organizing committee, the competition process of the contestant will be immediately suspended, and their awards and eligibility will be cancelled.

(5) Participants must submit a written request for change to the Committee, if there is any change in their information during the competition. After the Committee has filed the application and made the appropriate adjustments, the participant will be allowed to continue to take part in the competition and apply for the relevant requirements on the basis of the new entry information.

(6) The competition follows the principle of voluntary participation. If a participant wishes to cancel his/her competition, he/she must submit a written application to the Committee and withdraw from the competition after confirmation.

5.Competition Schedule

(1) Commencement (Mid-to-late March 2026). The Organizing Committee will launch the Competition and send out invitation.

(2) Project Recruitment (Late March 2026 to Late May 2026). The competition is open to both domestic and overseas projects. Project solicitation stations will be set up in developed western countries, RCEP member countries, as well as domestic cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Hefei, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Zhengzhou, entrusting local partners and relevant science and technology, talent organizations to assist in mobilizing overseas talents to register and participate.

Projects corresponding to the technical fields listed in the competition tracks will be solicited. Projects that have taken part in Nanning’s regular overseas talent roadshows are encouraged to register for the competition. The Competition Organizing Committee will conduct eligibility verification and formal review of all application materials.

(3) Pre-application Guidance (June and September, 2026 TBC). Pre-application guidance and matchmaking will be organized before the preliminary and final rounds.

(4) Project Screening (Mid-June, 2026 TBC). Qualified projects will be screened by the panel, and selected projects will advance to the preliminary round.

(5) Preliminary Project Matchmaking (Late June, 2026 TBC). Project leads of participating entries with strong landing intentions will be invited to participate in preliminary matchmaking sessions on project implementation.

(6) Preliminary Round (Early July to Late August, 2026 TBC). The preliminary round will be conducted via a combination of online and on-site roadshows in three domestic cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, and three overseas cities: Paris (France), Singapore and Bangkok (Thailand). In the same period, the ASEAN AI Special Track will also be held at preliminary competition sites in ASEAN countries.

(7) Final Round (Early September, 2026 TBC). The final round will be conducted via a combination of online and on-site roadshows in Nanning, organized by sector across fields including artificial intelligence, next-generation electronic information, critical metals and new materials, new energy, high-end equipment manufacturing and the low-altitude economy, and biomedicine and health. The core advantages of the project, technological innovation and application scenarios can be presented through PPT slide, video, product demonstration and other forms.

(8) Award Ceremony and Business Matchmaking (depends on the time of the launching ceremony of the 2026 Nanning-ASEAN Month of Talent Exchange). Those who enter the final round will attend the award presentation, project matchmaking, industrial park visits and relevant events in Nanning.

(9) Follow-up on the project launch. Following up services and project site investigation assistance will be provided to projects that intend to be launched in Nanning.

6.Awards Policy

(1) Money Award

1) For preliminary round:A number of participation awards will be granted (the top 10% in the preliminary) with the award money of 2,000 RMB per project (after tax). The money will be granted after the final.

2) For final round:

a. For four tracks (excluding the ASEAN AI Special Track): Artificial intelligence; next-generation electronic information, critical metals and new materials; new energy, high-end equipment manufacturing and the low-altitude economy; biomedicine and health

6 First Prizes with the money of 30,000 RMB per project

10 Second Prizes with the money of 20,000 RMB per project

14 Third Prizes with the money of 10,000 RMB per project

20 Recognition Awards with the money of 5,000 RMB per project

b. For ASEAN AI Special Track

5 ASEAN Cooperation Potential Awards with the money of 10,000 RMB per project. The award money is after tax and will be granted after the final and matchmaking in Nanning. For those who cannot make it to Nanning in 2026 due to force majeure events, he/she can visit Nanning and receive the money whenever deemed appropriate by the end of October 2027.

3) For projects launched in Nanning: For those entering the final round and deciding to launch their projects in Nanning, an award will be granted. The winner should register an enterprise in Nanning within one year after the competition as an independent legal person to launch the winning project and commercialize it. Or those partnering with local enterprises to commercialize it can apply for this award after the commercialization condition is mature. In case of special circumstances, the application for the award can be extended for one year.

a.The First Prize winners willbe includedinto “Yongjiang Program” (Pioneering Talents category) and granted 500,000 RMB to 5 million RMB according to the results of the assessment. Conditions and procedures for award money allocation will be implemented according to relevant “Yongjiang Program” (Pioneering Talents category) regulations (Innovaiton Pioneering Talents should not be older than 65 years old and the Entrepreneurial Talents should not be older than 55 years old).

b.The Second Prize and Third Prize winners willbe granted a minimum of 300,000 RMB and 150,000 RMB respectivelyand included into “Yongjiang Program” (Overseas Talents category). Disbursement conditions and procedures are in accordance with the special management measures for overseas talents under the “Yongjiang Program”.

c.The Second Prize, Third Prize and Recognition Award winners are eligible for applying for theTeam Programof “Yongjiang Program” (Pioneering Talents category), and winners can be subsidized with the amount ranging from 500,000 RMB to 5 million RMB. The exact amount is subject to the deliberation of the judging panel of the “Yongjiang Program”.

(2) Other Incentives

1) Free food & accommodation: One-day food & accommodation at designated hotel for one team member of those selected to enter the preliminary round and participate on site will be provided free of charge. Three-day free food & accommodation at designated hotel for one team member of those selected to enter the final round and participate on site as well as in the awards ceremony and project matchmaking in Nanning will be offered.

2) Recommendation award. The registered science & technology organization, headhunting and talents service agency and other cooperators can apply for this award for recommending projects. 500 RMB per project can be granted to those whose recommending projects enter either the preliminary or final. The award money is tax included and can be accumulative.

3) Launch award: Organizations and enterprises that have provided matchmaking and recommendation services to facilitate the launch of the first, second, third and recognition prizes winning projects will be awarded accordingly. Award money of 8,000 RMB per project (tax included) will be granted to organizations and enterprises by introducing first, second and third prize winners, 5,000 RMB per project (tax included) by introducing recognition prize winners.

4) Launch service:

a.One-to-one dedicated service including assistance in office site selection, business registration, opening bank account, tax registration and tax declaration guidance is available for the winners in the final.

b.Winners at the final will be recommended to the venture partners of the Competitionand innovation & entrepreneurship incubation carriers.

c.Winners at the finalwill be provided with entrepreneurship guidance, matchmaking and award policy implementation and other services.

7.Entry

Please log on the official website of the Competition （http://www.nieiec.com/） to fill in the registration form and upload attachments.

8.Contacts

Contact Persons of the Organizing Committee

(1)Ms. Ban (Nanning Science and Technology Bureau)

Tel/Fax: +86 771-553-3963；

E-mail：NIEIEC@163.com

Address: Nanning Municipal Government, 10th Floor, No.1 Jiabin Road, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China

(2) Ms. Zhang (Nanning Foreign Affairs Office)

Tel: +86 771-588-9043