On January 16, 2023, the 6th China-Israel Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest Grand Final & the 8th China-Israel Innovation Collaboration Summit wrapped up at the China-Israel Innovation Hub (Shanghai). Supported by the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the event was sponsored by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC) and the Israel Innovation Authority, organized by the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM) and Putuo District People’s Government, and undertaken by the Shanghai China-Israel Innovation Promotion Center (SIIPC), the Israel-China Innovation Alliance and the China-Israel Innovation Hub (Shanghai). Mr. Fu Gui, Deputy Director-General-level Counselor of China Science and Technology Exchange Center, Ms. Huang Hong, Deputy Director of STCSM, Mr. Liu Dongchang, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of CPC Putuo District Committee, and Mr. Avi Luvton (online), Executive Director of the International Collaboration Division of the Israel Innovation Authority, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks via video link. In addition, more than 50 representatives from Chinese and Israeli S&T enterprises, hubs, and investment agencies, and representatives of the Consulate General of Israel in Shanghai.

At the opening ceremony, the achievements of the China-Israel Joint Incubation Base by Large Enterprises and the China-Israel Joint Entrepreneurship Program were unveiled. As a means to deepen collaboration between large enterprises and innovative Israeli resources, the China-Israel Joint Incubation Base by Large Enterprises provides sound services for implementing winning projects at the China-Israel Innovation Hub (Shanghai). The China-Israel Joint Entrepreneurship Program aims to facilitate cooperation between East China Normal University and the China-Israel Innovation Hub (Shanghai) in talent training and translation of S&T outcomes, creating an innovation system integrating the industry, universities, and research institutes, and building an international exchange platform for talent growth, S&T cooperation and industrial transformation.

At the subsequent forum on S&T Innovation Win-Win, representatives from the National Innovation Center par Excellence (NICE) and Mobileye Greater China delivered keynote speeches. In addition, representatives from upstream and downstream enterprises, service agencies, and investment institutions were invited to the parallel event, the Wisdom TOP Intelligent Connected Auto Industry Forum, to discuss in-depth cooperation between China and Israel in the automobile industry and jointly creating an innovative ecology to set the stage for future cooperation.

The 6th China-Israel Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest focused on life and health, intelligent technology, and green technology. Through a series of activities, including the Challenger, Online Matchmaking, Technology Exhibition, and the Grand Finale, the contest gathered Chinese and Israeli S&T innovation resources and forces. It promoted the industrialization of more innovative cooperation achievements. In particular, 12 large Chinese enterprises, namely Fosun InnoStar Venture Capital Fund, National Innovation Center par Excellence, Shanghai Lingang Lanwan Private Equity Fund Management Co., Ltd., Shanghai HeartCare Medical Technology Co., Ltd., Fuxiang IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Changzhou Waston Medical Appliance Co., Ltd., JJR Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd., Weimei Health Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., TianXinFu (Beijing) Medical Appliance Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongnong Futong Horticulture Co., Ltd., Bank of Shanghai, and AstraZeneca in China, put forth their technological needs against 13 Israeli innovation projects unveiled at the event. Roadshows and reviews by representatives from large enterprises found several innovation projects, including non-invasive kidney treatment Curespec, dietary supplement granule by Glycemic Shield, solar-powered maintenance-free IoT system Sol-Chip, and elastic biomaterial Smart Resilin, matching the needs.

The China-Israel Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest is the only such platform under the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation (JCIC). It is an important part of the China-Israel Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2022-2024). The Contest has been held five times in a row with the support of both governments since 2017, garnering positive responses from Chinese and Israeli innovative enterprises. It has promoted pragmatic exchanges between the innovation circles of both countries, and generated fruitful cooperation. Up to now, the contest has attracted over 700 Israeli companies to participate, helped match Chinese and Israeli enterprises more than 1,500 times, and seen them reach about 400 primary cooperation agreements. A host of Israeli innovation and entrepreneurship projects have found partners in China through the event.

Inaugurated in December 2019, the China-Israel Innovation Hub (Shanghai) is a milestone for China-Israel collaboration in innovation. Bringing the unique advantages of both countries into full play around life, health, intelligent manufacturing, and Internet information, the hub drives innovation with industry and investment. It provides a sound entrepreneurial environment for enterprises of both countries like the “China-Israel International Scientific and Technological Achievements InnoExpress.” It is now home to around 113 companies and institutes from China and Israel, as well as 432 intellectual property rights of various types. Among these companies, Mantis Vision has completed Series A financing of RMB 138 million, Tian Yu Healthcare has completed Series A and A+ financing of USD 34.5 million, and Hot Core Vision Technology has completed angel financing of RMB 15 million.