Preliminary Round of the 6th China (Jinan) New Energy Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition Held in Budapest

September 17, 2024

On September 17, 2023, the preliminary round of the Eastern European Division of the 6th China (Jinan) New Energy Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition took place successfully in Budapest, Hungary. The event was hosted by the Central and Eastern Europe-China Science & Technology Exchange Association (CEECSTE) and the Chinese Students & Scholars Association of Hungary.

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Opening Ceremony Highlights

The opening ceremony featured speeches by distinguished guests, including:

• David Morris, Vice Chairman of the United Nations Asia-Pacific Sustainable Business Network,
• Bíró Károly, Mayor of Kozármisleny, Hungary,
• Chen Kun, Education Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary.

The speakers emphasized the importance of fostering China-Hungary collaboration and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.

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Focus Areas and Participation

The competition highlighted five key sectors, including:

• Big Data,
• Intelligent Manufacturing,
• Biomedicine.

This division attracted 260 projects from over 20 countries and regions, with more than 60% of project leaders holding doctoral degrees. The quality of submissions demonstrated significant improvement compared to previous years.

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Competition Outcomes

• After a rigorous screening process, 80 projects advanced to the preliminary round.
• The CEECSTE provided personalized coaching and policy support to help the shortlisted projects prepare for the finals and establish their groundwork for implementation.

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Deepening Collaboration

To enhance cooperation, the Association organized a field trip to Jinan for finalist teams. This trip aimed to:

• Facilitate partnerships with local stakeholders,
• Provide insights into Jinan’s innovation ecosystem,
• Foster long-term collaboration between the project teams and Chinese enterprises.

The competition continues to be a vital platform for bridging global innovation talent with opportunities in China’s burgeoning energy and technology sectors.