What’s even better? This year, ITEC has teamed up with Startup Alliance — a startup ecosystem that helps international founders land in Chaoyang with free office space, housing subsidies, company registration, and full policy support. Win or perform strongly, and you don’t just get prize money. You get a complete, cost-free launchpad into China’s most startup-friendly district.

Here’s how it works.

Step 1: Sign up

Register at https://www.exploreitec.com/ and submit your project. That’s it. No hidden steps, no upfront costs.

The 2026 Prize Pool

86 award slots | RMB 55 million+ total

• Grand Prize (1 winner): RMB 5 million
• First Prize (5 winners): RMB 2 million each
• Second Prize (10 winners): RMB 1.5 million each
• Third Prize (15 winners): RMB 1 million each
• Rising Star Award (20 winners): RMB 300,000 each
• Innovation Recognition Award (35 winners): RMB 100,000 each

What’s New at ITEC 2026

Award-Investment-Loan model: ITEC has assembled the ITEC Investment Consortium with CICC Capital, Hillhouse Capital, Huachuang Capital, and others. Support now extends from post-competition awards to investment matchmaking during the competition and credit support afterward.

New tracks: Smart Hardware, Embodied Intelligence, Smart Eldercare, and Aerospace, alongside an expanded Talent Track with dedicated categories for returnees, PhD talent, and One-Person Companies (OPCs).

40+ industrial parks: Each track is co-organized with a Chaoyang industrial park, so winning projects are seamlessly matched with the right ecosystem partners from day one.

Step 2: Win (or enter the pipeline)

Winning projects get automatically connected to Startup Alliance — this year’s official ecosystem partner. Startup Alliance manages the International Talent Entrepreneurship Park in Guomao and exists to help international founders land and grow in Chaoyang at minimal to zero cost.

But you don’t have to win a top prize. High-potential participants in Startup Alliance’s Venture Builders program get directly recommended to ITEC. And strong performers in ITEC, even without top awards, can still access Startup Alliance’s incubation support.

The pathway catches talent at every level.

Step 3: Land in Chaoyang with zero startup costs

Once you’re connected to Startup Alliance, the usual barriers disappear.

What Startup Alliance provides to incubated startups at no cost:

• Free office space at the 4,000 sqm International Talent Entrepreneurship Park in Guomao
• Full company registration — no legal fees, no navigating Chinese bureaucracy alone
• Direct access to the “Chaoyang 15” policy package — 15 government benefits that cover the full startup lifecycle. Key highlights include: housing support (up to 3 months free upon arrival plus long-term rent subsidies), R&D subsidies and computing resource vouchers, first-loan interest subsidies and angel-financing rewards, application-scenario pilot opportunities, and fast-track approvals for foreign-founded companies.
• Mentorship from experienced founders and industry experts
• Access to Lingxin Capital (Startup Alliance’s strategic investment arm) and a broader investor network
• A community of 500+ founders, regular events, and Demo Days

Startup Alliance’s policy team handles every application. You don’t navigate any of this alone.

Step 4: Build

That’s it. You compete. You connect. You land. And then you build — with office space, housing, registration, mentorship, and policy support already handled.

ITEC 2026 has removed every barrier that normally stops international founders before they even start.

Ready to start?

Apply at: https://www.exploreitec.com/

Questions? Contact the organizing committee: hello@exploreitec.com

Stay updated: Follow ITEC on LinkedIn

ITEC gives you the competition. Startup Alliance gives you the landing pad. Startup starts here.

The post Your Zero-Cost Entry to China’s Startup Scene: ITEC 2026 appeared first on ITEC 2026.

Who Can Benefit?

The policy is designed for emerging leaders in the digital economy, targeting individuals who are at the forefront of technological innovation and eager to contribute to Chaoyang District’s vibrant tech ecosystem:

– First-time founders based in Chaoyang with startups established within the last three years, ensuring support is directed toward early-stage ventures that need a strong foundation to grow.

– Under 35 years old, emphasizing support for young entrepreneurs innovation and aligning with the district’s goal to nurture the next generation of tech pioneers.

– Digital economy, including AI, industrial internet, and innovative “technology+” areas that empower other industries such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and more, by integrating advanced tech solutions.

What kind of Support?

1. Housing Support

Establishing a Stable Foundation To address early-stage living challenges faced by young innovators relocating or starting up in Beijing, the policy provides up to three years of housing assistance, helping to reduce personal financial burdens and allowing focus on business development:

– Three months of free housing to facilitate smooth initial settlement, followed by 50% or 20% rent subsidies (up to 2,000 CNY/month) in subsequent periods for young founders.

– STEM PhD Graduates: From global top 200 universities, eligibility for rent-free apartments, attracting high-caliber international talent to contribute to local R&D efforts.

– Postdocs: A 200,000 CNY settling-in allowance or rent-free apartments for those signing three-year contracts in Chaoyang, incentivizing long-term commitment to the district’s innovation hubs.

Additional Benefits:

– Foreign talents: Assistance with five-year multiple-entry visas, including for spouses and children, to ease international relocation and family integration.

– Local talents: Support for work residence permits, medical insurance, and children’s education, ensuring comprehensive welfare coverage.

2. Office Space

This policy empowers startups by providing flexible, cost-effective office solutions to support growth from ideation to expansion:

– Startups: Free registered address, shared meeting spaces equipped for collaboration, and up to five workstations for two years, ideal for small teams bootstrapping their ventures.

– Growing Enterprises: Subsidies of 50% in year one, 30% in year two, and 20% in year three, covering up to 500 sqm, to accommodate scaling needs without prohibitive costs.

– Research Access: On-demand use of international academic databases, enabling access to cutting-edge research and data for informed decision-making.

3. For Innovation Hubs

Chaoyang invests in innovation hubs to create founder-friendly spaces that foster networking, knowledge sharing, and accelerated development within a supportive community:

– Up to 1 million CNY in subsidies over five years for upgrades that enhance startup and talent appeal, such as modern facilities, event spaces, and tech infrastructure.

– One-stop services for government affairs, finance, and investment, streamlining administrative processes and connecting entrepreneurs with funding opportunities.

4. Financial and R&D Support

To ease financial pressures and bolster research capabilities, the policy includes a suite of incentives designed to fuel innovation and help startups overcome common funding and development hurdles:

– Full interest subsidy on first-time loans, eliminating initial borrowing costs for new ventures.

– 30% interest subsidy on financing, up to 100,000 CNY per year for three years, to support ongoing capital needs.

– 10% reward on angel round funding, up to 500,000 CNY, rewarding early investment successes and encouraging investor engagement.

– R&D Funding: 50% support for lab rentals, equipment, or experiments, capped at 500,000 CNY, enabling investment in essential research tools without full upfront costs.

– Computing Resources: Up to 500,000 CNY annually for computing power, model training, and data access, critical for AI and data-intensive projects.

5. Real-World Opportunities

The policy bridges concepts to practical applications through targeted mechanisms that provide testing grounds, streamlined processes, and additional incentives to turn innovations into market-ready solutions:

– Testing Scenarios: Government-backed pilots with rewards up to 500,000 CNY per project (3% of contract value) and 100,000 CNY for securing five or more scenarios annually, promoting real-world validation and adoption.

– Whitelist Mechanism: Dedicated channels, compliance guidance, and streamlined approvals for youth tech startups, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and accelerating operations.

District-Level Initiatives:

– Up to 2 million CNY in matching funds for provincial projects landing in Chaoyang, amplifying external investments.

– Matching rewards for overseas talents, plus inclusion in the “Phoenix Plan” for high-level services like priority networking and resources.

– Internship support, with incentives for enterprises to offer positions for returning talents, building a skilled workforce pipeline.

– Achievement conversion rewards up to 200,000 CNY per project for milestones like securing financing or product launches. 100,000 CNY subsidy per recruited and retained STEM PhD from top 200 global universities, encouraging talent acquisition and retention.

– Lifestyle attractions for talents, including vibrant street experiences, cultural-commercial-tourism activities, VIP fashion district services, and exclusive cultural landmark benefits, enhancing overall appeal and work-life balance.

If you’re a young tech entrepreneur, researcher, or innovator excited about Chaoyang’s Talent Support Policy and ready to turn your ideas into reality, we’re here to help guide you through the process. As part of our incubation and startup support community in Beijing, reach out to us today for personalized advice, application assistance, or connections to the right resources. Email us at hello@nhub.online to schedule a consultation.

The post Chaoyang’s effort to make entrepreneurship cost free for young entrepreneurs appeared first on ITEC 2026.

This year, ITEC is all about empowering young talents. We set up three tracks, at core of it is the talent Talent track, here’s a break down of it. 

1. Talent Rewards & Continued Support

The top 30 projects will receive a ¥200,000 Prize and benefit from an extensive support package, including:

– Free company registration address with access to shared meeting rooms and 5 hotdesks for up to 2 years (or office space up to 100 m² at ITEC Innovation Park).- Priority access to Chaoyang District’s innovation and investment ecosystem

– Direct connections to pilot opportunities and the Chaoyang Innovation Fund

– Winner of the Talent Track prize can also win eligibility for the ITEC 2025 Global Finals (prize pool up to ¥50 million). If the Talent Track winner also wins at the Global Finals, only the higher award is paid; if they don’t, they will still be rewarded with the Talent Track prize

Registration is open from now until August 15

2. Who Should Apply

This competition invites outstanding students from top domestic and international universities. We seek：

– Talents with clear technological vision and commercial potential. Whether you’re building AI-powered services or data-driven applications, your project should demonstrate a clear technical vision and real-world relevance.

– Focused on sourcing high-quality early-stage projects. Primarily seeking projects at or before Series A

– Particular focus on next-generation founding teams with strong innovative capabilities, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

3. Judging Criteria

We’ve tailored our judging criteria to focus on what really matters — your technological vision, business potential, and ability to collaborate across disciplines.

Technological Foresight

– The originality and defensibility of the core technology

– The team’s R&D capabilities and track record of continuous iteration

Commercial Potential

– Strength and viability of the business model

– The founder’s strategic vision and the team’s operational resilience under uncertainty

Cross-Sector Integration

– Ability to translate frontier technologies into industrial value

– Potential to activate investment, policy, and supply-chain resources

– Capacity for building ecosystems and forming synergistic partnerships

4. Not sure if you’re ready? Don’t worry, we have workshops and bootcamps to help you prepare

For foreign startups, we will have a half day workshop. Delivered by bilingual mentors, this program focus on various topics, including Beijing’s startup ecosystem, market entry requirements, investor expectations, localization tactics (hiring, partnerships, IP), and regulatory essentials.

Your journey doesn’t end here. We also provide

– Continuous support through connections to investment channels, industry partners, and application scenarios.

– Targeted guidance to help teams achieve efficient implementation and build toward long-term, sustainable growth.

5. Timeline

Now – August 15            Talent Track application deadline

August 31, 2025           Industry Track application deadline

Early September 2025                Talent Track Roadshow

Late September 2025           Industry Track / Special Track

Late October 2025                                       Global Finals

Early November 2025                                       Inspection

December 2025    Innovation Summit & Awards Ceremony

For more information: contact@darkblue-kangaroo-691909.hostingersite.com

The post Ready to Launch? ITEC 2025 Talent Track is Now Open For Registration appeared first on ITEC 2026.