Hangzhou holds entrepreneur competition for overseas talents

Nine projects enter the final of an innovation and entrepreneurship competition for foreign talents in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Aug 8. [Photo/Hangzhou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau]

A smart wearable camera for blind and visually impaired people, developed by an Italian company, won the first prize at an innovation and entrepreneurship competition for foreign talents in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Aug 8.

The competition for foreigners is a new session of this year's Hangzhou Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition for Overseas Talents, targeting projects developed by innovative foreigners from around the world.

A person from the organizing team said Hangzhou has been leading the country in bringing in overseas talents in recent years and the session for foreigners is a new approach they had devised to attract more creative talents and projects from abroad.

Since the competition began this February, it has received applications from 225 foreigners and 60 percent of them are from North America and Europe. Most of their projects are concerned with the sectors of the digital economy and health, which is thought to be highly consistent with the industrial development of Hangzhou.

Nine projects, focusing on the most advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and 3D printing, stood out and entered the final of the foreigners session on Aug 8. After fierce competition and strict evaluation, a smart wearable camera from Italy's Horus Technology received the unanimous recognition of judges and was awarded the first prize.

The winner will get prize money from the competition. For all outstanding projects, if they choose Hangzhou to settle in and commercialize their projects, preferential policies related to venues, accommodation, funding and loans will be provided to help facilitate their businesses.