On June 27, "2022 Qianhai Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan Youth Innovation and 
Entrepreneurship Competition" was officially kicked off, marking the start of 
series of activities "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation to Create the Future" to 
celebrate the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to the motherland, 
according to Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry 
Cooperation Zone.

For many ambitious young people, this promises more opportunities and a better 
start. Sunny Zhou, a young lady from Guangdong, is director of a Macao-funded 
company. Her project won the silver medal in the finals of the competition last 
year. "The contest has provided us an opportunity to meet many industry experts 
and entrepreneurial partners from different places, and has brought us new 
ideas for entrepreneurship," said Sunny Zhou.

To provide greater support to participants, this year's competition is fully 
upgraded. The winning projects can directly advance to the Industry Finals of 
China (Shenzhen) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. Professional 
mentors are introduced to provide one-on-one counseling. Besides, the winners 
can be given priority to settle in Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation 
and Entrepreneur Hub (QSHKYIEH) and enjoy relevant preferential policies. The 
event will also carry out activities such as Creator Camp, Entrepreneurial 
Counseling Sessions and Investment Matchmaking Sessions to build a good 
platform for the youth to communicate, cooperate and advance. The competition 
has set four sub-regions, with a total prize of more than CNY7 million.

The event has been held for six consecutive years since 2016, taking in 
altogether about 6,000 entries, including nearly 3,000 from Hong Kong, Macao 
and other places. By promoting the transformation of relevant scientific and 
technological achievements, Qianhai has become a "dream-big place" for many 
youths.

Lee Jee Bong from Hong Kong, who has once taken part in the contest, is one of 
such entrepreneurs in Qianhai. Last year, the project of his company was 
awarded the silver prize in the Enterprise Growth Category of the competition 
finals. "The technical requirements of our product are high, and we need plenty 
of professional talents. Qianhai has policies and services appealing to 
talents, so excellent heads and minds gather. It is easy to get access to the 
Greater Bay Area and the broader domestic market. That's why we are based 
here," said Lee Jee Bong.

"QSHKYIEH is where our dream started and will be the place where we can fulfill 
our dream," said Lee Jee Bong. The QSHKYIEH he mentioned is well-renowned in 
Hong Kong's entrepreneurial youth circle and considered by many Hong Kongers as 
the first choice to start a business. Here, a whole chain of innovation and 
entrepreneurship ecosystem has been established with "six chains in one": 
innovative chain, industrial chain, capital chain, policy chain, information 
chain and talent chain, and a large number of young entrepreneurial teams from 
Hong Kong have concentrated here. By the end of May, 2022, QSHKYIEH has 
incubated a total of 591 entrepreneurial teams. Recently, Qianhai continues to 
advance the construction of various areas for the QSHKYIEH to provide more 
space for young entrepreneurial people; meanwhile, a series of support measures 
such as issuing special support funds for Hong Kong and Macao youth, 
implementing 15% corporate income tax, foreign investment incentives, office 
rent subsidies, etc. to shore up youth entrepreneurship.

At the launching ceremony of the competition, Qianhai released nine practical 
benefits for Hong Kongers, covering housing, entrepreneurship, services, 
employment, platform, scientific innovation, finance, settlement, livelihood, 
etc., aiming to provide comprehensive support for Hong Kongers and Hong Kong 
enterprises to develop in Qianhai, and to provide facilitations for youths to 
do business in Shenzhen.

"Qianhai is the bridgehead of Hong Kong-Shenzhen cooperation and the first stop 
for Hong Kong youth to develop in the mainland. I hope more Hong Kong youth can 
pursue their dreams and fulfill them in Qianhai and the Greater Bay Area," said 
Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese 
People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Hong Kong 
Legislative Council, at the launch ceremony.

Source: Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry 
Cooperation Zone