The Minhang division of the 2026 "Startup in Shanghai" International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and the inaugural "Grand Neobay" Cup International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition opened at Grand Neobay on July 7.

The competition aims to support Shanghai's development as a global science and technology innovation center and strengthen Minhang's role as a core hub for science and technology innovation in southern Shanghai by providing a platform for competition and resource matchmaking and attracting high-quality projects and talent from China and abroad.

With Grand Neobay as a core hub, Minhang is home to numerous hard-tech startups, high-tech enterprises, and listed sci-tech enterprises and has developed a full-chain, tiered cultivation system. The area ranks among the city's leaders in the density of sci-tech innovation resources, industrial innovation vitality, and the efficiency of commercializing scientific and technological achievements.

This year's competition, running from July 7 to 9, focuses on Minhang's modern industrial development and features tracks in integrated circuits, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, next-generation electronic information, intelligent connected new energy vehicles, high-end equipment, advanced materials, new energy, and green and low-carbon industries.

The competition is open to entrepreneurial teams from China and abroad, overseas-educated talent returning to China, high-quality sci-tech enterprises from the Yangtze River Delta region, and local technology enterprises. It covers two main categories: the Start-up Category and the Growth Category.

Since registration opened, a total of 417 project applications have been submitted from across the country. After the preliminary review, 262 high-quality enterprises were shortlisted, of which 108 are in the Start-up Category and 154 are in the Growth Category.

Roadshows were held simultaneously at four venues, using a standard format of an eight-minute presentation followed by a seven-minute Q&A. Senior experts in industrial technology, venture capital, fiscal and tax policy, and project implementation evaluated the projects.

Systematic pre-competition training was also provided. The free coaching covered business plan refinement, pitch deck improvement, presentation skills, and mock Q&A sessions. Tailored guidance was provided to enterprises in different categories to strengthen their competitiveness.

Project representatives gave presentations on core technologies, innovation strengths, business models, market strategies, implementation plans, and financing needs. Experts asked targeted questions and provided feedback to identify high-quality projects with core technologies, independent intellectual property rights, and strong potential for industrialization.

Source: Minhang district government