Region's position as hub for startups strengthens at the event, Wang Jinhui reports.
As a vital technological center and pioneer in China's new economy, Chengdu in Sichuan province has taken on a leading role as the country strives for innovation and entrepreneurship, according to local officials.
The city's position as a center for startup businesses was further strengthened during the 2018 National Mass Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week, or Shuangchuang, which took place Oct 9 to Monday nationwide with the theme of "high-level Shuangshuang, high-quality development".
Chengdu served as the main venue this year after Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen previously, and was the first city in western China to host the event.
The city organized seven important campaigns and 29 special activities, exhibiting its achievements as well as high-quality development under the reform and opening-up over the past decades.
It showcased the new development models of industries such as digital economy and platform economy and latest achievements in innovation and entrepreneurship at home and abroad.
A series of state-of-the-art technological products were displayed in Chengdu including the world's first waterproof sockets, full HD flexible screens, intelligent rehabilitation robots and satellites, as well as glass curtain walls for power generation.
An exhibition hall of the Institution of New Economic Development in Chengdu's Tianfu New Area provided visitors with displays of 80 enterprises and 108 fruitful research results, demonstrating the city's efforts to enhance new economy, innovation and high-quality development.
During the event, an alliance of demonstration bases was launched in Chengdu by 12 provinces, cities and autonomous regions in western China and 26 State-level demonstration bases for Shuangchuang by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. The alliance aims at carrying out cooperative projects and applications for research results in the sector.
"Chengdu, as the place for the main meeting, has become a demonstration area for innovation and entrepreneurship under the spotlight of national attention," said Niu Wenwen, chairman of Dark Horse Group, a company offering startup services.
Niu added that Chengdu is leading the role in boosting startup businesses in terms of creating a good environment and favorable policies.
"There are just a few cities in China who could make a breakthrough in the sector - and Chengdu is one of them."
He said that the company came to the city in 2014 and has witnessed Chengdu's improvement in entrepreneurship environment and its transformation into an innovative and technological zone.
"Chengdu has a solid industrial base in artificial intelligence and it is a good opportunity for enterprises," Niu said.
Megvii Technology Ltd, a Chinese AI unicorn commonly known as Face++ funded by Dark Horse, will set up businesses in Chengdu thanks to the city's large number of qualified software engineers.
Dark Horse has built a 1,400-square-meter incubator in Jingrong town in Chengdu's Pidu district, which is expected to open in November this year.
Its 1,600-square-meter Dark Horse road show center in Jinniu district was recognized by a State-level mass innovation agency.
Niu said that the company plans to launch an industrial base in Chengdu, the third of its kind after the company's bases in Shanghai and Nanjing.
"Chengdu is one of the most developed cities in western China, with many young people and a good technological atmosphere," said Fan Junchao, vice-president of Royole Corporation, a Shenzhen-based manufacturer and startup of flexible displays and smart devices, who has attended the event for two consecutive years.
Fan said Chengdu's role as the main meeting place in the region will further promote young people's enthusiasm for innovation and entrepreneurship. He said he is confident of finding business partners in Chengdu.
Luo Zhuo, chairman and partner of THG Ventures, said that Chengdu is not only home to many prestigious education institutes for cultivating professionals, but also offers a comfortable living environment.
"Innovation and entrepreneurship is no longer a privilege only for big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Chengdu is becoming a strong growth pole for startups amid the return of talented people," Luo said.
He added that THG Ventures takes the technological entrepreneurships as its main investment field and the company is looking for partners in Chengdu.
The city's index for innovation and entrepreneurship reached 85.26 last year, ranking the fourth after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
And Chengdu is considered one of the top 10 major entrepreneurial cities in China by Fortune magazine.
Since August 2017, Chengdu has attracted more than 240,000 highly educated young professionals, ranking among the top three in China in terms of net entry rate of talented people. Last year, the city's investment in research and development increased 14.6 percent. The number of invention patents for per 10,000 people grew 18.8 percent. The output value of high-tech industrials was measured in some 1 trillion yuan.
The 2018 National Mass Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week in Chengdu, Sichuan province, showcases achievements and high-quality development under the reform and opening-up over the past decades. Photos provided to China Daily
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Royole Corporation exhibits its fully flexible displays during the event.
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(China Daily 10/18/2018 page22)
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