Nanjing kicked off an international competition on May 24 to attract overseas start-up projects to settle in the city’s Jiangning Economic and Technological Development Zone.

In the following week, candidates from countries including Germany, France, the UK, Sweden, Belgium, Japan and South Korea will showcase some 40 projects mainly in fields of biomedicine, new energy, new materials, digital economy, next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, and environmental technology.

The competition with four rounds is jointly hosted by the Nanjing Science and Technology Association and the Management Committee for the Jiangning Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Leaders from R&D institutions, VC firms, top enterprises and foundations will provide business coaching to participants and facilitate exchange between entrepreneurs and private investors.

The winning projects that decide to operate in the development zone will receive wide range of support, such as professional services and application for incentives. Those who meet the conditions can also get funding and rent reduction for commercial leases.