2019 Participants' Exchange Meeting, Japan Round of the China Shenzhen Innovation and Entrepreneurship International Competition

On Thursday 12 December 2019 the 2019 Participants' Exchange Meeting of the Japan Round of the China Shenzhen Innovation and Entrepreneurship International Competition was held in Tokyo. The meeting aimed to advance Shenzhen's innovation and entrepreneurship drive, share experience of setting up in Shenzhen, catch up on the progress of competing teams, connect them with high-tech industry resources and encourage past participants to guide newcomers. Close to 50 people attended, many of them past competitors in the Japan round.

Overview

• Co-hosts: Shenzhen Overseas High-Level Talent Liaison Office in Japan, Japan Shenzhen Economic, Trade and Cultural Promotion Association, and People's Daily Overseas Edition Japan Monthly
• In cooperation with: Shenzhen Economic and Trade Office in Japan and the Japan New Overseas Chinese News Agency

Addresses

Tian Changhao, Chief Representative of the Shenzhen Economic and Trade Office in Japan, praised the Japan-based competitors and noted that the teams of Dr Shao Xiaowei, Dr Wang Yang, Cheng Liang, Sun Xiaojun and Mao Wei had set up in Shenzhen through the competition. The end of each competition, he said, is a new starting point, supported by Shenzhen's follow-up policies and industrial park services.

President Jiang Feng reviewed the four Japan rounds held from 2016 to 2019: 36 teams had reached the finals and five projects had moved to Shenzhen. He named five reasons for the round's continued success: reporting to and seeking guidance from China's diplomatic missions in Japan, promotion at universities across Japan, partnership with overseas Chinese science and talent organisations, publicity through Chinese and Japanese media, and the understanding and support of Japanese government bodies and the scientific community. Pointing to the new opportunities created by Shenzhen's designation as a pilot demonstration zone, he urged people to join the 2020 Japan round.

Participants' stories

• Xu Yongwei (Deputy General Manager, Shenzhen Hongyida Technology): after winning second prize at the 2016 finals he set up in Shenzhen, growing his premises from 100 to 1,000 square metres in three years
• Shi Hong (President, Tenji Information Systems) and Xu Fucheng (President, Fusei Shoji): drawing on their award-winning entries, they described Shenzhen's diverse, resource-rich environment and its strong support for start-ups

In the networking session, team representatives discussed their plans and how to use Shenzhen's platform to grow their businesses.