THE 15th China (Shenzhen) Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition received a total of 7,852 entries, a record high, from 39 countries and regions before the registration deadline at the end of June.

Among them, there are 3,350 entries in the enterprise category, an increase of 7.4% year on year, and 4,502 projects in the team category, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported yesterday, quoting a source from the organizers.

The competition, organized by the Shenzhen Municipal Science, Technology and Innovation Commission and Shenzhen Media Group, commenced its registration process May 26.

The organizers have upgraded the competition by introducing seven major industrial tracks including high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, new energy, new energy vehicles, energy conservation and environmental protection, next-generation information technology and biomedicine. The competition will focus on fostering strategic emerging and future industries, promoting the convergence of innovation elements in key sectors and striving for breakthroughs in core technologies and the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements.

Data show that the top three fields among this year’s competition entries are next-generation information technology, biomedicine and high-end equipment manufacturing, with 3,892, 1,153 and 1,067 entries, respectively.

The finals of this year’s contest will take place in November. (Yang Jie, Han Ximin)