SPICI invites Startups, Innovative SMEs, and Spin-offs to apply free of charge for ITEC 2026 – The 14th Chaoyang International Talent Entrepreneurship Conference: one of the main international platforms promoted by Beijing's Chaoyang District to foster the entry of foreign technology companies into the country.

The call is aimed at technological and entrepreneurial projects with international growth potential, interested in validating their model, accessing investment opportunities, developing industrial partnerships, and evaluating pathways for establishment or collaboration in China, via the  Chaoyang District in Beijing.

FOCUS: THE CHAOYANG DISTRICT

Chaoyang is the most international district in Beijing.

Home to the main foreign embassies present in the capital, Chaoyang hosts some of the leading Chinese companies, as well as the headquarters, R&D centres, and operational offices of many foreign multinationals.

Located in the Chaoyang District are:

·        +80% of the international organisations and chambers of commerce in Beijing;

·        +70% of the regional headquarters of foreign multinationals in Beijing;

·        +65% of the foreign financial institutions in Beijing;

·        +80% of the international media in Beijing.

FOCUS: ITEC 2026

ITEC – International Talent Entrepreneurship Conference is a platform designed to support founders and innovative businesses at all stages of development for entry into China through the Chaoyang District: from application and selection to connecting with industrial partners, investors, incubation services, policy support, and growth opportunities in the Chinese market.

Since 2013, ITEC has engaged over 80,000 entrepreneurs, facilitated the landing of more than 1,300 projects, and mobilised investments of approximately 48 billion RMB (around €6 billion). As of 2025, the platform has attracted over 5,200 projects, of which more than 2,500 are international, coming from 141 countries and regions.

Now in its fourteenth edition, ITEC represents a privileged gateway to Beijing's innovation ecosystem, aiming to connect founders, startups, investors, industrial partners, universities, research centres, institutions, and business development support platforms in China.

The 2026 Edition includes a comprehensive program of competitions, pitch sessions, matchmaking activities, incubation services, market entry support, and networking sessions with the Chaoyang innovation ecosystem.

WHY PARTICIPATE

Through ITEC 2026, the selected companies can benefit from the following opportunities:

• matchmaking with investors, corporates, science parks, and technological partners;

• support on attraction policies for foreign companies and talents, market entry, company incorporation, and compliance;

• access to spaces, incubators, shared laboratories, and roadshow spaces;

• funding opportunities, equity financing, and cross-border financial solutions;

• support for localisation, intellectual property, and commercial development;

• dedicated services for international founders, including housing support, settlement services, networking, and community support.

The programme is designed to facilitate the entry and growth of startups and innovative companies into the Beijing ecosystem, starting with the Chaoyang District, one of China's primary hubs for innovation, finance, industry, and emerging technologies.

CALL TARGET AUDIENCE

The call is open to:

• Startups;

• Innovative SMEs;

• University Spin-offs;

Both early-stage projects and startups/businesses in more advanced stages are eligible.

THEMATIC AREAS

Startups, Innovative SMEs, and University Spin-offs from the following sectors are eligible:

1.        Embedded Intelligence & Robotics

a.        Core components and software: chips, sensors, actuators and drive systems, AI algorithms, and large models.

b.       Robotics and system integration: humanoid, quadruped, wheeled, exoskeleton, and composite robots.

c.        Application scenarios and services: manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, commercial, and domestic services.

2.        Aerospace

a.        Commercial Aerospace: satellites, launch services, ground stations, satellite data applications.

b.       Aviation: advanced materials, aero-engines, avionics, simulation, next-generation communications.

3.        Metaverse / Internet 3.0

a.        Core technologies: XR, digital twins, AIGC, blockchain, digital assets.

b.       Industry solutions: digital humans, industrial simulation, remote diagnosis, and maintenance.

4.        Digital Healthcare and Smart Eldercare

a.        Digital Healthcare: AI-assisted diagnosis, medical imaging, surgical robots, digital therapies.

5.        Smart Hardware & Devices

a.        Upstream core technology base: edge AI chips, sensors, new materials, solid-state batteries.

b.       Midstream/downstream complete machines and innovative forms: wearables, smart home hubs, robots, smart mobility devices.

6.        Digital Culture & Cultural and Creative Industries

a.       Digital audiovisual innovation applications: creation and immersive audiovisual production.

b.       Digital publishing and knowledge services: technologies for digital publishing and reading.

c.       Digital entertainment and interactive experiences: immersive experiences and digital cultural tourism.

d.       Gaming and esports: game development and innovation in the esports ecosystem.

e.       IP trend toys and digital cultural creativity: IP incubation and derivative products.

f.         Digital cultural industry services: platforms, data tools, low-impact services.

7.        Data Economy, Data Governance & Data-driven Applications

a.        Enterprise data applications: R&D, production optimisation, precision marketing.

b.       Industrial data collaboration: finance, healthcare, culture, eldercare, tourism.

c.        Urban data governance: traffic control, emergency management, environmental monitoring.

d.       International data cooperation: cross-border data and international events.

e.        Core Data technologies: collection, governance, storage, security, privacy computing.

8.        Broader Frontier Technologies

a.        Future information: 6G, quantum information, optoelectronics.

b.       Future health: cell and gene therapies, brain-computer interfaces.

c.        Future manufacturing: atomic precision manufacturing, bio-manufacturing.

d.       New energy and storage: hydrogen, carbon capture, fusion energy.

e.        New materials: graphene, superconductors, new biomedical materials.

9.        Artificial Intelligence

a.        Advanced computing: chips, heterogeneous computing, edge computing.

b.       Algorithm models: large models, multimodal AI, AI for Science.

c.        Intelligent agents: multi-agent collaboration, planning, tool usage.

d.       Security governance: model security, data security, AI ethics.

10.   Industrial AI and Smart Manufacturing Applications

a.        Upstream core technology base: industrial models, sensors, industrial chips.

b.       Midstream platform services: industrial internet, cloud, smart software.

c.        Downstream scenario solutions: smart manufacturing, supply chain, science/industrial parks.

AWARDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

ITEC 2026 offers financial awards and recognition for selected projects globally.

The awards listed in the official materials include:

• Grand Prize: 5,000,000 RMB – 1 winner;

• First Prize: 2,000,000 RMB – 5 winners;

• Second Prize: 1,500,000 RMB – 10 winners;

• Third Prize: 1,000,000 RMB – 15 winners;

• Rising Star Award: 300,000 RMB – 20 winners;

• Innovation Recognition Award: 100,000 RMB – 35 winners.

The disbursement of the awards is subject to setting up operations within the Chaoyang District.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Projects will be evaluated by a panel comprised of industry experts, innovation managers, investors, science parks, corporate entities, and government bodies.

The evaluation will consider the following criteria:

• market prospects;

• team capability and solidity;

• level of technological innovation;

• business model;

• investment value;

• alignment with Chaoyang's industry chains and priorities.

The process includes independent scoring, review, and centralised evaluation, with the aim of ensuring a scientific, fair, and authoritative assessment.

ACTIVITY ROADMAP

The tentative schedule for ITEC 2026 is as follows:

July – October 2026
Launch of monthly pitch sessions and service matchmaking activities, with connections activated within 48 hours of each pitch session.

Late October 2026
ITEC 2026 Global Finals.

November 2026
Due diligence.

Early 2027
ITEC Innovation Summit and awards announcement.

The schedule may be subject to updates by the organisers.

How to apply and deadlines

Participation in this call is completely free. To submit an application, interested Startups, Innovative SMEs, and University Spin-offs must complete the registration Google Form available at the following link: https://forms.gle/XesUreKfHVLbALga9, no later than 28 August 2026.

After filling out the online form, please send an email to startup@spici.eu to complete the evaluation, attaching:

• Pitch Deck / Business Plan of the project in English;

• Any additional technical attachments (e.g. promotional videos or team certificates).

Email subject line: “ITEC 2026 – Company/Entity Name – Expression of Interest”

Projects will be evaluated by a panel comprised of industry experts, innovation managers, investors, science parks, corporate entities, and government bodies.

FOCUS: Beijing, the Zhongguancun District, and the Italian Office managed by SPICI

Beijing is one of the world's leading hubs for innovation, scientific research, the digital economy, and technological development. With a GDP of nearly $700 billion, the Chinese capital ranks among the top economies in the country and constitutes a strategic market for companies, startups, and research centres interested in developing technological partnerships, accessing investors, industrial collaborations, and soft-landing programs in China.

The heart of Beijing's innovative ecosystem is the Zhongguancun District, recognised as one of China's most important high-tech districts and often referred to as the “Chinese Silicon Valley”.  The area is developed in close proximity to some of the country's leading academic and scientific institutions, including Tsinghua University, Peking University, Beijing Normal University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and is historically linked to the birth and growth of major Chinese and international tech players.

The District is home to some of the largest Chinese technology companies, including Baidu, Lenovo, Xiaomi, TikTok, Kingsoft,  as well as deep-tech and AI companies such as DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, Horizon Robotics, and Cambricon. The area also hosts the Regional Hubs and R&D centres of numerous international players, including Microsoft, Google, Intel, AMD, IBM, Oracle, Sony, Apple, NVIDIA, TSMC, Samsung, Texas Instruments, HP, Dell, Red Hat, ARM, ASML, and GlobalFoundries.

In this context, since 2025 SPICI has managed the Zhongguancun Enterprise Service Representative Office in Italy, the Italian Office of the Zhongguancun District, which acts as an operational bridge between the Italian ecosystem and the city of Beijing. The Office facilitates scouting, orientation, applications to international programmes and awards, B2B/B2G matchmaking, soft landing, and entry into the respective markets.