Shanghai launches its 2026 WeStart international innovation and entrepreneurship competition. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

　　As a returning overseas Chinese, Ru acknowledged the competition"s value beyond funding.

　　"The training sessions and expert sharing have given me new insights into many aspects, which are very helpful for our company"s development," he said.

　　Wu Nan, vice-president of Laser Link Technology, which won third prize last year, introduced their innovation, "We presented our ground-based laser communication terminal, which provides affordable internet access to remote mountainous areas and islands."

　　"Financial institutions have proactively approached us after witnessing our performance in the competition," he added.

　　"They now offer preferential policies to support high-tech enterprises like ours."

　　The Shanghai technology innovation center also signed a cooperation agreement with Bank of Shanghai during the event to establish a special support program for high-growth early-stage projects. This initiative provides financial continuity through donated funds before government innovation funds are disbursed.

　　The 2026 competition will optimize its system, aiming to engage innovation entities across industry, academia, research, and finance sectors through a full-chain development model.

　　"We plan to connect with more overseas entrepreneur platforms in North America and Europe, providing additional competition opportunities," Huang emphasized.

　　"Our goal is to transform this competition into a platform that genuinely empowers entrepreneurs, serving as a vital connector for resources."