On June 12, the final of the 2026 Chengdu International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Finland Stop) has been successfully held at MARIA 01 in Helsinki, Finland. Focusing on cutting-edge fields including artificial intelligence, new materials, biomedicine, electronic information, green and low-carbon technologies, and the low-altitude economy, the competition served as an international platform connecting Chengdu and Finland in technological innovation, project collaboration, and industrial cooperation.
This event is supported by the China Association for International Science and Technology Cooperation, hosted by the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology(Chengdu Municipal Bureauof Foreign Experts Affairs), and organized by the Chengdu Productivity Promotion Center (Chengdu International Science and Technology Exchange Center). Since the launch of project recruitment in early May, more than 50 high-quality Finnish innovation projects were submitted. Following two rounds of expert evaluation, six outstanding projects advanced to the final competition.
The event officially commences at 10:00 a.m. Helsinki time, bringing together more than 50 guests, including innovation and technology experts, investment professionals, university research teams, and representatives of innovative enterprises from both China and Finland. An eight-member judging panel, composed of distinguished experts from Finland and Chengdu in the fields of scientific research, investment, legal services, and international cooperation, was invited to evaluate the projects comprehensively based on technological innovation, commercial value, team capability, financial and risk management, and potential for collaboration and implementation in Chengdu.
Prior to the competition, a promotional video showcasing Chengdu was screened, providing project representatives and judges with a vivid and insightful introduction to the city’s dynamic spirit and innovative ecosystem. Wang Bin, Counsellor in Charge of Science and Technology Affairs of the Embassy of China in Finland delivered opening remarks, extending greetings to all those supporting China–Finland innovation cooperation. He reviewed the achievements and future plans of bilateral scientific and technological collaboration, noted that the competition would inject new momentum into innovation partnerships between the two countries, congratulated the organizers on the successful event, and welcomed Finnish innovators and professionals to work together with Chinese partners to achieve mutual growth and shared success.
The project pitching session was both intensive and engaging. According to the competition schedule, the six finalist projects—NordPulse AI, MindTune AI, YouthMind Analytics, NanoSemi Frontier, BioNova Conversion, and SemantiCore AI—took turns presenting their technologies and business models.
Combining cutting-edge innovations with practical application scenarios, the teams demonstrated the technological strengths and growth potential of Finland’s innovation ecosystem. The judging panel conducted in-depth discussions and provided professional feedback on each project’s core technologies, market prospects, business strategies, and feasibility of establishing operations in Chengdu. The atmosphere was highly interactive and productive.
Following the presentations, the judges scored the projects on-site according to principles of fairness, impartiality, and professionalism. Based on the average scores, the top three projects were selected:
First Place: BioNova Conversion
Second Place: NordPulse AI
Third Place: NanoSemi Frontier
An award ceremony was subsequently held to recognize the winning teams.
After the presentation session, participating projects engaged in open networking and matchmaking activities with representatives from Chengdu-based enterprises. Discussions focused on technology collaboration, project implementation, investment and financing opportunities, and industry–university–research integration. Multiple project representatives expressed strong recognition of Chengdu’s innovation and entrepreneurship environment and indicated their interest in exploring future cooperation opportunities in the city.
As an important platform connecting Chengdu with European innovation resources, the successful organization of the Finland Stop further expanded Chengdu’s international innovation and entrepreneurship cooperation network. Leveraging Finland’s strengths in advanced technologies and specialized industries, the competition not only identified a number of high-potential overseas projects suitable for implementation in Chengdu but also showcased the city’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, comprehensive industrial support capabilities, and open attitude toward international collaboration.
Moving forward, the organizers will continue to provide full-cycle follow-up services and matchmaking support for participating projects, facilitating precise alignment between overseas innovations and Chengdu’s industrial development needs. Through the Chengdu International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition platform, Chengdu will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Finland and innovation ecosystems worldwide, attract more high-quality international projects, top-tier talent, and cutting-edge technologies, and accelerate their implementation in Chengdu. By harnessing innovation as a driving force, the city will continue advancing high-quality development and its vision of becoming a globally influential center for scientific and technological innovation.
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