ELIGIBILITY

 

This competition features two tracks for the preliminary and semi-final rounds: the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Track, and the Overseas Track, open to applications from their respective regions. Shortlisted projects from both tracks will compete together in the finals without further track distinction. Eligible entries can be either registered enterprises or unregistered team projects. If a project has not yet been registered as a company in Guangzhou, the team must demonstrate an intent to start a business in Guangzhou and present a concrete localization plan. The specific eligibility criteria are as follows:

 

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applications are accepted in Chinese or English. Teams must consist of at least 2 members; info cannot be changed post-submission. Each person can only participate in 1 project per year. Duplicate entries or overlapping members will disqualify all related applications.

  • Entries must have a clean integrity record, free from severe scientific misconduct under active disciplinary enforcement or any social credit blacklists. Compliance with all competition rules and regulations is strictly required.

  • Entries must strictly adhere to all guidelines on research integrity and technological ethics.

  • Projects that have previously participated in the National Finals of the HKUST One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition, as well as past First Prize winners of the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Track of the Guangzhou Science and Technology Innovation Entrepreneurship Competition, are ineligible to register again.

 

Eligibility (Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Track)

A project will be recognized as a Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan project if it meets any of the following criteria. 

1.If the project has not undergone commercial registration prior to application (i.e., applying as a team), it must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • The team includes at least one individual of Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan nationality or residency.

  • Team members have graduated from universities in Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan, or have completed more than one year of studies at universities in these regions.

  • Team members have worked in Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan for more than one year.

2.If the project has completed commercial registration prior to application (i.e., applying as an enterprise), it must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Enterprises registered in the Chinese mainland with funding or equity investment from Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan, established no earlier than January 1, 2021, and with an annual operating revenue not exceeding RMB 50 million in 2025.

  • Enterprises legally incorporated and registered in the Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan regions.

 

Eligibility(Overseas Track)

A project will be recognized as a Overseas project if it meets any of the following criteria.

1. If the project has not undergone commercial registration prior to application (i.e., applying as a team), it must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • The team includes at least one individual of foreign nationality.

  • Team members have graduated from foreign universities, or have completed more than one year of studies at foreign universities.

  • Team members have worked abroad for more than one year.

2. If the project has completed commercial registration prior to application (i.e., applying as an enterprise), the enterprise must be legally incorporated and registered in a foreign country.