The HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Competition is now open for registration, with submission deadline set for April 15, 2026. This prestigious competition invites entrepreneurial project from around the world, offering innovators an opportunity to showcase their initiatives and accelerate their growth on a global stage.
The HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Competition will feature 12 distinct tracks, covering the following areas:
1) Artificial Intelligence/ Robotics
2) Integrated Circuits/ Quantum Information
3) 5G/6G/ Internet of Things/ Smart Cities
4) Blockchain/ Financial Technology
5) Pharmaceuticals/ Medical Devices/ Brain-Machine Interfaces
6) Biotechnology/ Health Services
7) High-end Instrumentation/ General Key Components
8) Key New Materials/ Green Advanced Energy/ Low-carbon Technlogies
9) Intelligent Equipment/ New Energy Vehicles/ Aerospace Technology
10) Software and Information Services/ Technology Services
11) Modern Agriculture/ Food Technology
12) Cultural and Creative Industries
The competition will award a total of 200 project prizes, distributed as follows:
First Prize: 12 awards, each with 2 million CNY
Second Prize: 36 awards, each with 1 million CNY
Third Prize: 68 awards, each with 0.5 million CNY
Merit Awards: 84 awards, each with 0.2 million CNY
The competition will provide winners with essential support for setting in Beijing, including assistance with healthcare, immigration (applicable only to overseas 1st, 2nd, 3rd prize winners), social insurance, and the importation of research materials. Winners will also benefit from resources such as business services, incubation training, product demonstrations, capital connections, industry partnerships, media promotion, and comprehensive professional support throughout the project lifecycle.
HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Competition Timeline
Registration: From launch date until April 15, 2026
Initial Review: Late April 2026
Preliminary Rounds: May to June 2026
Semi-finals: July 2026
Finals: August 2026
Info Session - HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Competition (SIGN UP NOW)
Event Name: Strategic Choices for Entrepreneurs - Analysis of Capital Industry Innovation Strategies in Relation to HICOOL Opportunities
Date: March 16, 2026 (Monday)
Time: 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Location: UGA, InnoPort, CUHK
Language: Mandarin
Target Audience: and Research staff, alumni and students of CUHK
Speaker: Song Jia, Head of HICOOL, Vice Dean of HICOOL Business School, Deputy General Manager of Hycore Innovation
Focus Areas: The entrepreneurial ecosystem in Beijing and strategic initiatives for industry innovation, as well as insights on HICOOL 2026 - connecting to the ecosystem in Beijing through the summit and competition
*****For any questions or objections, the Chinese version shall prevail.*****