Shanghai is advancing toward its vision of building a world-class hub for science and technology startups, with the 2025 Startup in Shanghai International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in full swing this November.

This year's semi-finals brought together 300 shortlisted enterprises spanning cutting-edge sectors such as next-generation information technology, biomedicine, advanced equipment, and new materials, showcasing the city's strong momentum in technological innovation.

More than a contest platform, the competition serves as an accelerator for emerging tech enterprises. Throughout a series of roadshows and expert reviews, a wave of groundbreaking technological innovations has emerged.

One standout example is a company focused on traditional Chinese medicine solutions for HPV prevention and treatment. During the roadshow, its representative shared insights from more than a decade of R&D experience. The company's drug candidate has entered the pre-clinical research stage, with plans to pursue patent protection in Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea. The company aims to bring the product to the global market between 2027 and 2028 to benefit women's health worldwide. Review experts provided detailed advice from an intellectual property perspective, emphasizing the importance of protecting the formula's confidentiality and uniqueness, thereby facilitating the company's international expansion.

This year's competition has been expanded to include companies from other provinces and regions for the first time. It has also forged partnerships with leading incubators and enterprises across the city, strengthening support for teams and early-stage startups.

Notably, the competition has attracted many returning participants who value not only the contest itself but also the professional services and guidance provided throughout their entrepreneurial journey. One participant shared that two years ago, the team was still validating its product concept. Today, they are addressing strategic challenges such as R&D resource allocation and capital market engagement, which they hope to navigate with the help of this competition.

In addition to mentorship and guidance, participants gain access to private capital and government funding opportunities, as well as policy support, enabling all-around, full-chain empowerment.

Now in its 13th year, the competition has nurtured nearly 100 listed companies. From early-stage startup camps to hard-tech acceleration programs, the competition continues to provide tailored support for tech companies at every stage of development.

The finals are scheduled for December, with even more highlights to come.

Source: Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality