Notification on Organizing 2026 Hunan Provincial (International) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

Science and Technology Bureaus of all cities and prefectures, Management Committees of all National High-tech Zones, Hunan Malanshan Group Co., Ltd., and all relevant organizations and departments,
It is determined to hold the 2026 Hunan Provincial (International) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, with aims of establishing an international platform of innovation and entrepreneurship, and building a virtuous ecosystem of "Attracting Talents, Promoting Innovation, Supporting enterprises through the Competition", as an action of thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Party Congress and the National Two Sessions, fully implementing the important speeches and instructions made by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection of Hunan, anchoring the beautiful blueprint of "Three Highlands and Four NEWs". The relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:

I. Competition theme
Hunan for the World, Innovation for the Future

II. Organizational structure
1. Hosting organizations and departments. To be co-organized by: Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province, Publicity Department of Hunan Provincial Committee, Foreign Affairs Office of Hunan Provincial Committee, Development and Reform Commission of Hunan Province, Department of Education of Hunan Province, Department of Industry and Information Technology of Hunan Province, Department of Finance of Hunan Province, Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Hunan Province, Hunan Provincial Federation of Trade Unions, Communist Youth League Hunan Provincial Committee, Radio and Television Bureau of Hunan Province, Federation of Industry and Commerce of Hunan Province, Changsha Municipal People's Government, and other organizations and departments.
2. Executing and co-executing organizations and departments. To be executed and assisted by Hunan Provincial Torch Entrepreneurship Center, Hunan Malanshan Group Co., Ltd., Hunan Provincial Center for International Science and Technology Exchange, Hunan Provincial Productivity Promotion Center, Hunan Provincial Water Resources Research and Utilization Cooperation Center, Hunan Provincial International Talent and Intellectual Exchange and Cooperation Center, as well as third-party organizations with overseas resources invited to participate in the competition's organization.
3. Special invitees. China Federation of Radio and Television Associations is invited to co-host the "Malanshan Cup" Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Digital Intelligent Audio-Visual Technology, with its Professional Technical Committee as one of the co-executing departments.
4. Title sponsor. Bank of Changsha.
5. Organizing Committee & Discipline and Supervision Committee. A Competition Organizing Committee is to be established. It will be responsible for overall coordination of the event, with members consisting of relevant leaders from each hosting organization and department. The committee office is located at the Scientific and Technological Achievements Transformation Promotion Office of Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province. A Discipline and Supervision Committee is to be established. It will be responsible for overseeing event organization and evaluation, with members consisting of the Division of Supervision Management and Integrity Construction of Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province, as well as the Disciplinary Inspection Commissions of departments.

III. Competition system
The 2026 Competition will feature a Main Competition (see Appendix 1 for details), a Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition (see Appendix 2 for details), a Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (see Appendix 3 for details), and several specialized competitions (see Appendix 4 and 5 for relevant details).
1. Main Competition. Modeled after the national China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, it includes five tracks: new-generation information technology, biomedicine, high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy (new energy vehicles) and energy conservation/environmental protection, and new materials. Participants are technology-based SMEs within the province, divided into two groups based on 2025 revenue: Micro&Small Group (under 20 million yuan) and Growth Group (20 million yuan (inclusive) to 200 million yuan).
2. Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition. Modeled after the National Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition, it focuses on technological application projects with potential for major disruptive breakthroughs within Hunan Province's '4×4' modern industrial system. Participants include enterprises and institutions within the province as well as centrally administered departments stationed in Hunan.
3. "Malanshan Cup" Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Digital Intelligent Audio-Visual Technology. Upgraded further on the international track, it focuses on audio-visual data governance and services, AI-generated Chinese-style audio-video content, intelligent audio-visual processing, immersive audio-visual technologies, and AI-empowered content creation in film/TV. It aims to attract global innovation and entrepreneurship projects, support the promotion of cultural industry innovation through technology innovation, and accelerate high-quality development of integrated culture and technology industries in Malanshan circle. Participants include global innovation and entrepreneurship enterprises and teams (individuals).
4. Specialized competitions. To be organized by the respective specialized competition committees, with guidance from the office of the Main Competition organizing committee.
1) Vertical Domain Incubation Project Incubator Competition. It is designed to implement the "Seven Ones" policy to support college student entrepreneurship, and will be organized by Hunan Xingxiang Technology Innovation Co., Ltd. ("Low Altitude + AI" track), and Hunan Qilin Xin'an Technology Co., Ltd. (Artificial Intelligence Track), respectively. Outstanding projects selected through these competitions that meet the eligibility criteria for the Main Competition (no more than 5 recommended per incubator) may advance to the semifinals in the corresponding track of the Main Competition. Participants include domestic innovation and entrepreneurship enterprises and teams.
2) Non-ferrous Metal Green Mining Innovation Competition. Open for domestic innovative and entrepreneurial projects in intelligent mining and metallurgy equipment, R&D and application of non-ferrous metal new materials, with intentions of rooting in Hunan. Projects winning tiered awards from the competition that meet the Main Competition criteria may advance to the semifinals in corresponding tracks of the Main Competition. Participants include domestic innovative enterprises and entrepreneurial teams.

IV. Competition arrangements
1. Main Competition
1) Registration (May 28, 2026 ~ June 30). The sign up of participating projects is to be carried out on the "Hunan Science and Technology Cloud Platform".
2) Review and recommendation (July 1 ~ July 6, 2026). The Science and Technology Bureaus of each city and prefecture will review project materials and decide which ones to recommend.
3) Preliminary round (early July 2026). To be organized by the Science and Technology Bureaus of each city and prefecture. The projects are to be selected and recommended for advancing to the semifinals through due procedures.
4) Due diligence (deadline: July 31, 2026). To be entrusted to the Science and Technology Bureaus of each city and prefecture in collaboration with investment institutions for implementation.
5) Semifinals (August 2026, specific date to be announced later). To be entrusted to cities or industrial parks for organization, conducted separately by competition tracks. Top 3 projects from both Micro&Small Group and Growth Group in each of the 5 tracks will advance, totaling 30 finalists.
6) Finals (September 2026, specific date to be announced later). To be conducted through on-site pitch presentations with immediate score announcements.
7) Recommended for national-level competition. According to the national competition arrangements and quota allocation, participating enterprises will be recommended based on their competition performance. For those who cancel or refuse to participate without valid reasons, the competition committee reserves the right to revoke related awards and may record the circumstances in research integrity records depending on the severity.
8) Award ceremony (September 2026). To be held the day after the finals.

2. Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition
1) Registration (May 28 ,2026 ~ June 30). The sign up of participating projects is to be carried out on the "Hunan Science and Technology Cloud Platform".
2) Review and recommendation (deadline: July 6, 2026).  The Science and Technology Bureaus of each city and prefecture will review projects and decide limited ones of projects for further recommendation.
3) Preliminary round (early July 2026). With reference to the evaluation criteria of the National Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition, the remote review method shall be adopted.
4) Due diligence (deadline: July 31, 2026). To be carried out by each recommending department.
5) Finals (August 2026, specific date to be announced later). To be held through the public pitching method, with scores announced on-site.
6) Award ceremony (September 2026, specific date to be announced later). The top ten projects selected in the finals will be awarded during the Main Competition's award ceremony.

3. "Malanshan Cup" Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Digital Intelligent Audio-Visual Technology
1) Registration (May 28, 2026 ~ June 30). The sign up of participating projects is to be carried out on the "Hunan Science and Technology Cloud Platform".
2) Formal review (deadline: July 10, 2026). The Professional Technical Committee of China Federation of Radio and Television Associations and third-party agencies will review domestic and international applications respectively, focusing on technical relevance, documentation completeness, and authenticity.
3) Preliminary round (early July 2026, specific date to be announced later). The remote review method will be adopted to select out top 60 projects for the semifinals, with the proportion of international projects progressing roughly equivalent to their participation rate in the competition. Any adjustments such as successive replacement will be made based on actual scores and rankings.
4) Semifinals (late July 2026, specific date to be announced later). The online defense method will be adopted, with 24 projects advancing to the finals. The proportion of overseas projects advancing should generally match their participation rate in the competition, and any adjustment such as successive replacement will be made based on actual scores and rankings.
5) Finals (September 2026, specific date to be announced later). On-site pitching format will be adopted. Scores will be announced on-site.
6) Award ceremony (September 2026). The award ceremony will be held the day after the finals.
During the competition, in collaboration with related industrial parks and zones, Hunan Malanshan Group, and Bank of Changsha, a series of supporting activities such as park tours, investment promotion, and financing matchmaking will be organized.

4. Specialized competitions. The process includes registration, review and recommendation, preliminary round, finals, and awards, which are specifically organized by the respective professional competition committees under the guidance of the office of the competition organizing committee.

V. Award settings
1. Main Competition. First, second and third prizes will be awarded to 1, 2 and 3 winners respectively in both Micro&Small Group and Growth Group, along with several excellence awards. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes and excellence awards will receive a bonus of 1 million yuan, 500,000 yuan, 300,000 yuan and 200,000 yuan per project respectively, supported as scientific research projects under the management of provincial science and technology program.
2. Top 10 projects in the Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition. Ten top projects will be selected based on final competition results, with each winning project receiving 200,000 yuan in support as scientific research projects under the management of provincial science and technology program.
3. "Malanshan Cup" Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Digital Intelligent Audio-Visual Technology. Based on the final results, there will be 2 first prizes, 4 second prizes, 6 third prizes, and 8 excellence awards. The proportion of awards granted to overseas projects should generally match their participation rate in the competition, with any adjustment such as successive replacement made according to actual scores and rankings. The bonuses for the competition prizes are: ¥500,000 each, ¥300,000 each, ¥200,000 each, and ¥100,000 each. Subsequently, for award-winning projects from outside the province (including overseas) that are rooted in Hunan Province within 2 years (requiring registration of a business entity and substantive operations in Hunan), follow-up support will be provided with an amount no more than the total bonus amount of the corresponding award in the Main Competition (excluding projects already supported by the provincial sci-tech innovation plan that year).
4. Specialized competitions. Vertical Domain Incubation Project Incubator Competitions and Non-ferrous Metal Green Mining Innovation Competition will set up awards independently based on the self-raised funds of the specialized competition organizing committee.
5. Outstanding Organization Awards. The competition will grant several Outstanding Organization Awards, primarily recognizing outstanding Science and Technology bureaus, Science and Technology departments, Industrial Parks, organizing institutions, and co-organizing institutions that have demonstrated excellence in competition organization.

VI. Supporting measures
1. Project implementation services. The Competition will collaborate with related parks and Hunan Malanshan Group to strengthen implementation services. For award-winning projects willing to realized their commercialization in Hunan, the competition committee will assign dedicated personnel for coordination. Winning projects from the Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Digital Intelligent Audio-Visual Technology can directly enter Hunan Malanshan Group's ”Foal Program" review process and receive comprehensive implementation services. Projects winning tiered awards can directly enter due diligence for Hunan Provincial College Student Venture Capital Fund within one year, with priority access to investment approval review.
2. Benefits for talents. For gold and silver medal winners of the national finals (excluding specialized and international competitions) and first prize winners of the provincial Main Competition, who are the main founders or actual controllers of enterprises in Hunan, they can be directly selected as provincial leading talents in technology entrepreneurship. For enterprises that win first or second prize in the provincial Main Competition or gold, silver, or bronze medals in the national competition, their main founders and actual controllers will be directly selected as provincial entrepreneurship mentors for college students.
3. Full-chain competition services. Establish a quality project database for the competition and provide enhanced follow-up services. Partner banks of the competition will selectively provide financial support. Recommended selectively to the investment funds and venture capital institutions which serve as partners of the Competition. Recommended selectively to the media institutions which serve as partners of the Competition, for publicity. During the competition, the "Entrepreneur Growth Program" will be implemented, establishing a full-chain service system covering "registration - preliminary rounds - semi-finals - finals - investment and financing matching - project implementation support - continuous cultivation." The competition also provides services such as policy interpretation, mentor guidance, pitch polishing, scenario matching, and resource allocation to help participating projects transition from "competition excellence" to "rooting in Hunan and sustaining in growth".

VII. Competition supervision and management
1. The Discipline and Supervision Committee of the Competition will oversee the entire process of the event, with dedicated supervisors assigned at each stage to enhance comprehensive monitoring.
2. The competition strictly adheres to the "Eight-point Decision" of the CPC Central Committee on improving Party conduct and its implementation details, as well as the "Ten Prohibitions" on science and technology project management services by Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province, strengthening risk prevention in key areas and positions while continuously improving execution ethic.
3. The competition rigorously comply with the requirements of the "Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Project Research Integrity Management Measures" (Xiangke Fa [2023] No. 191) to ensure fairness, impartiality, and transparency throughout all stages. Projects found to have won awards through solicitation of favors or improper connections will have their awards revoked, funding recovered, and relevant individuals or organizations will face strict disciplinary action.

VIII. Contact information
Contact: Wang Da, Li Runjie, Wang Zhengyu
Phone No.: +86 (0)731-88988006, 88988513, 88988752
Technical support: +86 (0)731-84586921, 84586761
Address: Room 1116, Technology Building, 233 Yuelu Avenue, Changsha, Hunan Province

Appendix 
1. Main Competition Organizing Plan
2. Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition
3. Organizing Plan of “Malanshan Cup” Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Digital Intelligent Audio -Visual Technolog
4. Organizing Plan of Vertical Domain Incubation Project Incubator Competition
5. Organizing Plan of Non-ferrous Metal Green Mining Innovation Competition

Hunan Provincial Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition Organizing Committee
May 28 2026 

Source：Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province

To download the above 5 appendices, please click the official link.

https://kjt.hunan.gov.cn/kjt/xxgk/tzgg/tzgg_1/202605/t20260528_33989231.html