Information Session of HICOOL 2025

Date: 17 Feb 2025

Time: 2:30 -3:30 pm

Agenda:

2:30-2:35 Opening Remarks by the Organizer
2:35-3:00 HICOOL Competition Briefing
3:00-3:20 Business Plan Coaching
3:20-3:30 Q&A Session

Venue: Innowing Two, The University of Hong Kong (Offline)

Sub-Venue: HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Academy (Live Streaming)

Language: Chinese（普通话）

About HICOOL

The HICOOL 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Competition has officially launched, and the registration channel is now open. The registration deadline is March 31, 2025. This competition invites entrepreneurial projects from around the world to showcase themselves on a global stage and accelerate their growth.

During the registration period, the organizing committee will host several offline preliminary evaluation roadshows. At least 50% of the projects in each roadshow will secure a spot to advance to the preliminary competition. These roadshows are only open to registered projects. Projects interested in participating in the roadshows should pay attention to notifications from the organizing committee regarding the schedule and register in time.

For 2025, the competition has been streamlined into 12 Tech Verticals:

• Integrated Circuits/Quantum Information
• Artificial Intelligence/Robotics
• 5G/6G/IoT/Smart Cities
• Blockchain/FinTech
• Pharmaceuticals/Medical Devices
• Biotechnology/Health Services
• High-End Instruments & Equipment/Universal Critical Components
• Advanced Materials/New Energy/Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection
• Intelligent Equipment/New Energy Smart Vehicles
• Software and IT Services/Tech Services
• Modern Agriculture/Food Tech
• Cultural and Creative Industries

A total of 200 projects will be awarded. The prize distribution is as follows:

• First Prize: 12 winners, RMB 2 million each
• Second Prize: 36 winners, RMB 1 million each
• Third Prize: 68 winners, RMB 500,000 each
• Merit Award: 84 winners, RMB 200,000 each

Additionally, a “Talent Scout Award” will be given to individuals who recommend participating projects, with each scout receiving RMB 500,000.

Apart from monetary prizes, the competition offers winning participants support for living and working in Beijing, including residency benefits, education for children, medical insurance, and other essential services. Additional resources include product showcasing, capital and industry networking, media promotion, and professional services covering the “entire lifecycle” of their entrepreneurial journey.

2025 Competition Timeline:

• Registration: October 2024 to March 31, 2025
• Preliminary Evaluation Roadshows (Optional): November 2024 to March 2025
• Preliminary Evaluation: April 2025
• Preliminary Competition: May to June 2025
• Semi-Finals: July 2025
• Finals: August 2025

The HICOOL Global Entrepreneurs Summit and Entrepreneurship Competition is a comprehensive international talent initiative led by Beijing. Focused on fostering innovation from both domestic and international entrepreneurs, it serves as a global platform for networking and exchange. Upholding the principle of being “entrepreneur-centric,” HICOOL seeks out outstanding entrepreneurial projects worldwide and connects them with the resources necessary for starting businesses in Beijing, including funding, policy support, and office space. It aims to establish a multi-level, multidimensional, and diversified international entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Over the past five years, the HICOOL Global Entrepreneurship Competition has attracted 32,001 entrepreneurs and 24,171 projects from 145 countries and regions worldwide.

We warmly welcome talented individuals and projects from the University of Hong Kong to register for HICOOL! See you in Beijing!