Jinan, capital of Shandong province, has kicked off the 8th China (Jinan) New Growth Drivers Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, according to a news conference organized by the Information Office of the Jinan Municipal People's Government on May 13.

The competition features five key categories: electronic information and advanced software, high-end equipment and intelligent manufacturing, modern medicine and biomanufacturing, advanced materials and new energy equipment, and modern agriculture with green environmental solutions.

According to the authority, this year's competition includes five preliminary countries — the UK, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan, as well as 10 domestic regions including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.

Project registration runs from mid-May to late June, followed by initial reviews. Regional preliminaries will take place from July to September, while the finals will be held in Jinan in October.

As the long-time host of the competition's preliminary rounds, Jinan Innovation Zone has achieved solid results in project implementation and talent services.

In recent years, the zone has leveraged competitions to attract talent, bringing in 82 high-quality projects and recruiting over 350 professionals.

This year, the zone will host the Shanghai regional preliminaries and the collaborative innovation track, offering comprehensive support for projects and leveraging the city's talent policies to provide assistance.