On November 16, the preliminary round of the 14th China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition – Nanotechnology Industry Technological Innovation Specialized Contest (hereinafter referred to as the “Nanotechnology Specialized Contest”) was successfully held at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area National Nanotechnology Innovation Institute (hereinafter referred to as “Guangna Institute”). After fierce competition, 30 outstanding enterprises, including Shenzhen Micro-Object Scientific Instruments, Beijing Junqing Zhouyuan Technology, and Gewu Sensing (Shenzhen) Technology, advanced to the national finals.
Emerging Innovators: Nanotechnology’s Rising Stars Begin to Shine
The Nano Professional Competition is the premier competition in China’s nanotechnology sector. It is hosted by the Torch High-Tech Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, with support from the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province. The event is organized by the Guangzhou Institute of Nanotechnology Innovation, the National Center for Innovation in Nanomanufacturing, and the Yangtze River Delta Center of the Torch High-Tech Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The preliminary round was divided into three competition tracks: “Start-up Group,” “Growth Enterprise Group 1,” and “Growth Enterprise Group 2,” with ten companies advancing from each track. In total, 30 outstanding companies advanced to the national finals in China.
In terms of scoring weight, the Growth Enterprise category places greater emphasis on “Business Model and Implementation Plan,” while the Startup Enterprise category focuses more on performance in both “Technology and Product” and “Business Model and Implementation Plan.”
The projects in this competition cover emerging industrial fields such as new nanomaterials, nanomanufacturing, nanomedicine and health, and nano-intelligent devices, outlining a new vision for future industrial development driven by nanotechnology.
Companies vied for the stage, not only showcasing the technical highlights of their projects but also elaborating in detail on how nanotechnology functions in practical applications to address critical industry challenges.
Among numerous outstanding projects, a series of remarkable achievements have emerged. For instance, in the field of nanomaterials, Jiyuan Hongxin Rubber Composite Materials Co., Ltd. has led the green transformation of the rubber industry with its industry-leading water-based wet mixing technology, successfully addressing the industry’s long-standing pain points of high energy consumption and high pollution associated with traditional dry mixing methods. In the realm of nano-intelligent devices, Shenzhen Weiwu Scientific Instrument Co., Ltd. has successfully developed China’s first nano-infrared spectrometer, capable of identifying chemical compositions and analyzing microstructures of materials at the nanoscale, thereby breaking the long-term foreign monopoly on nanomaterial analysis instruments.
Empowering Nano-Innovation, Building an Ecosystem Platform
In 2020, the competition was officially established in Huangpu, Guangzhou. In 2021, it was upgraded to a national-level event and incorporated into the specialized track series of the China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. As of 2025, more than 600 participating enterprises and teams from over 30 provinces and municipalities across China have taken part.
The Nano Professional Competition provides a high-quality platform for innovation and entrepreneurship for participating enterprises, bringing together top talents, high-quality projects, and companies across China. In addition to the first, second, and third prizes, this year’s competition has introduced four new special “Honorary Awards”: the “Industry Integration Contribution Award,” the “Most Investment-Worthy Award,” the “Technology Transfer Pioneer Award,” and the “Technological Innovation Award.”
The complete innovation chain established by the Guangna Institute and the National Nano-Manufacturing Industry Innovation Center provides competing enterprises with a series of support services, including common technology platforms, intellectual property rights, and diversified industrial investment. This facilitates these enterprises in bridging the “last mile” of industrialization and commercialization, thereby further promoting the transfer and transformation of nanotechnology achievements.
GAC Incubator Fosters “Hard Tech” in Nanotechnology
Adhering to the model of “government guidance, public welfare support, and market mechanisms,” the competition identifies and cultivates innovative entrepreneurial projects focused on key core technologies in the nano-industry through open competitive selection. Based on project types and needs, the competition integrates advantageous resources and implements differentiated support strategies to accelerate the conversion of innovative achievements, foster the growth of participating enterprises, promote the market application of nanotechnology and products, and achieve deep integration of talent, technology, industry, capital, and other essential factors.
Throughout this process, the Guangzhou Institute of Nanotechnology (GINT) has played a pivotal role. As a new-type R&D institution jointly established by the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology and the Guangzhou High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, GINT’s core mission is to address weaknesses in national scientific and technological innovation. It focuses on research and development in key areas such as nanomaterials, intelligent devices, and nanomedicine, promoting the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation in the field of nanotechnology. To date, GINT has successfully introduced and commercialized nearly 30 nanotechnology projects, systematically cultivating and incubating a cohort of high-tech innovative enterprises in the nano-industry sector. Recently, it has incubated innovative enterprises in the field of micro- and nano-photonics.
Special Thanks
Acknowledgement of the Strong Support from the Following Organizations for the Competition(Listed in no particular order)
Co-organizers:Guangzhou Nano Industry Investment Co., Ltd., National Strategic Alliance for Technological Innovation in Nanotechnology Industry, Beijing Nano Technology Industry Innovation Alliance, Shanghai Nanotechnology Association, Chongqing Strategic Alliance for Technological Innovation in Nanotechnology Industry, Anhui Strategic Alliance for Technological Innovation in Nanomaterials and Applications Industry, Henan Strategic Alliance for Technological Innovation in Nanomaterials Industry, Sichuan Nanotechnology Association, Beijing New Materials and New Energy Technology Development Center, Shanghai Nanotechnology and Industry Development Promotion Center, National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Wuhan Institute of Biotechnology, Chongqing Association for the Promotion of Industry-University-Research Cooperation, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Southwest University, Henan University, CAS Resources, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Beijing Natong Technology, GCL Technology, USTC Silicon Valley
Sponsor:Agricultural Bank of China Limited, Guangzhou Dongcheng Sub-branch; Shenzhen Pengdaxin Energy and Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.; Bank of Guangzhou Co., Ltd., Tianhe Central Sub-branch; Tian Da Gong He Law Firm; China Securities Co., Ltd.