Exhibition to support professionals, projects and capital matching

An exhibition in Xiamen, Fujian province, is showcasing innovative products, investment projects, and human and capital resources in a bid to promote high-tech startups and help businesspeople to find partners.

Part of the ongoing 2017 China International Fair for Investment and Trade, running from Monday to Thursday, the professionals-projects-capital matching event revolves around the theme of "innovation in Xiamen, home to startup companies".

It is designed to help the host city to develop into a model in terms of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, the event organizers said.

Seventy-two local companies are displaying more than 100 products at the exhibition, covering a variety of sectors, including artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, software and information technology, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, new materials, environmental protection and the creative industry.

About 75 percent of the exhibits are from companies launched by high-level experts and specialists listed in key national recruitment plans, representing the technological expertise and marketing muscle of local businesses.

A series of simultaneous activities will be held during the exhibition. Among them is the Xiamen leg of a national innovation and startup plan contest, aiming to locate budding entrepreneurs and creators. More than 600 entrants have signed up for the event.

In cooperation with Zhilian Recruitment, one of China's biggest recruitment websites, as well as the China Strait Talent Market and the Xiamen Recruitment Center, the exhibition is publicizing more than 400 posts online, and offline via roughly 200 companies.

The Xiamen government released a new policy in July to attract high-level professionals, providing up to 100 million yuan ($15 million) to top experts and their teams.

In close proximity to Taiwan, Xiamen has long valued recruiting graduates and specialists from across the Taiwan Straits, offering government aid for Taiwan students' internships in the city.

Another highlight of this year's exhibition are financing services.

More than 40 investment institutes will participate in the exhibition. They are expected to fund nearly 100 investment projects, involving a total of more than 750 million yuan in investment value.

An array of high-tech agency groups will show more than 100 research achievements from different countries, including Germany and Israel.

Since its first session in 2014, the annual exhibition has remained as a key attraction of CIFIT.

Over the past three years, the event has promoted more than 530 high-tech products and helped to fund 190 investment projects involving 810 million yuan. It has witnessed nearly 940 technological and financing deals signed, and 914 agreements sealed to bring in professionals.

It attracted 130,000 visitors from 2014 to 2016, facilitating services for innovation and startups.