As part of the Internationalisation activities and the Zhongguancun Enterprise Service Representative Office in Italy, the Italian Office of the Zhongguancun District of Beijing, SPICI - Society for Innovation, Cooperation and Internationalisation, together with the International Technology Transfer Network (ITTN), Fabbrica Italiana dell’Innovazione and InnovUp, is coordinating the participation of SMEs, Startups and Spin-offs in the 10th Zhongguancun International Advanced Technology Competition, the international competition dedicated to innovative businesses, promoted as part of the ZGC Forum 2027.

WHAT IS THE ZGC FORUM?

The ZGC Forum is one of the most prestigious events in the world in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation. It takes place every year in the Zhongguancun district, known as the “Chinese Silicon Valley”. Promoted by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Chinese Ministry of Industry and IT (MIIT), the programme gathers government representatives, big tech, universities, research institutes, investors, and innovation hubs from all over the world every year to discuss technological development, international cooperation, and innovation policies, creating new business opportunities between China and the rest of the world in high-tech sectors.

THE 2027 COMPETITION

Within the framework of the ZGC Forum 2027, the 10th Zhongguancun International Advanced Technology Competition aims to reward and promote innovative startups with high potential for commercial development and international expansion at an international level.

The winning companies – presenting themselves to a qualified panel of Chinese and international experts – will have access to cash prizes, matchmaking services, investment support, intellectual property assistance, privileged access to programmes for attracting foreign talents and companies, and incubation spaces in China.

RECIPIENTS AND INNOVATION THEMES

The Call is aimed at SMEs, startups and spin-offs operating in the following fields:

1.      Artificial Intelligence

2.      Semiconductors & Integrated Circuits

3.      Life Sciences (e.g. innovative drugs, bioengineering, medical devices, digital health and HealthTech, etc.)

4.      Advanced Manufacturing (e.g. Robotics, high-end equipment, etc.)

5.      Commercial Aerospace & Space Tech

6.      New Materials

7.      Green Economy Technologies;

8.      Cultural & Creative Industries

OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES

Selected companies will have the opportunity to:

• Present themselves to a qualified panel of Chinese and international experts;

• Expand their international contact network to enter the Chinese market;

• Participate in targeted matchmaking meetings with investors, corporates, industrial parks, and technological partners;

• Access investment and industrialisation opportunities;

• Obtain broad media visibility in the Chinese market;

• Access incubation opportunities and programmes for attracting talent and companies;

• Participate for free in the ZGC Forum in case of reaching the Final.

The winning companies will have access to cash prizes, matchmaking services, investment and intellectual property support, privileged access to programmes for attracting foreign talent and businesses, and incubation spaces in China.

The following cash prizes are scheduled for the top ten candidate companies:

• Champion: RMB 1,000,000

• First Runner-up: RMB 500,000

• Second Runner-up: RMB 300,000

• 7 Excellence Awards: RMB 150,000 each

The awarding of prizes is subject to a soft-landing pathway in the city of Beijing.

ROADMAP OF ACTIVITIES

The indicative calendar includes:

1.      Submission of applications – by 25 October 2026

2.      Preliminary & Second Round (online) – November 2026 to February 2027

3.      Semi Finals (online) – early March 2027

4.      Finals – late March 2027

HOW TO PARTICIPATE AND DEADLINES

Participation is free of charge. To submit their applications, interested companies must fill out the registration Google Form available at the following link: https://forms.gle/tbeesTXMdbaHiMEg6 no later than 25 October 2026.

SUPPORT AND INFORMATION

Throughout the open period of the Call, the SPICI team will be available to participants for support and information. For info, contact us at the email startup@spici.eu

FOCUS: BEIJING, THE ZHONGGUANCUN DISTRICT AND THE ITALIAN OFFICE MANAGED BY SPICI

Beijing represents one of the main global hubs for innovation, scientific research, the digital economy, and technological development. With a GDP of almost 700 billion dollars, 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, gaining access to investors, industrial collaborations, and soft-landing pathways 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 located close 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 China's largest technology companies, including Baidu, Lenovo, Xiaomi, TikTok, Kingsoft,  as well as deep tech and AI companies like 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 been managing the Zhongguancun Enterprise Service Representative Office in Italy, the Italian Office of the Zhongguancun District, which operates as an operational bridge between the Italian ecosystem and the city of Beijing. The Office facilitates scouting activities, orientation, applications for international programmes and awards, B2B/B2G matchmaking, soft-landing, and entry into the respective markets.