In order to actively promote the innovation resources matchmaking and cooperation between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), facilitate friendly exchanges between young scientific and technical personnel, and create an atmosphere for pragmatic cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, the 2022 “Rainbow Bridge” China-Japan-ROK Youth Innovation Cooperation Matchmaking and Competition Finals co-hosted by China Science and Technology Exchange Center and the People’s Government of Guangming District, under the guidance of the Department of International Cooperation (Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs), the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, were successfully held in Guangming District, Shenzhen on August 30~31, 2022. Fu Gui, Grade-4 Staff Member of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center and former Counsellor from the Office for Science and Technology at the Embassy of China in the ROK; Zeng Wufei, Member of Standing Committee and Director of Organization Department of CPC Guangming District Committee; Haruko Yoneyama, Executive Director of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST); and Jung Uoo Chang, Chief Representative of Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in China attended the Event and delivered speeches. Representatives from scientific and technological innovation institutions, experts from related fields, well-known investors, enterprise representatives as well as 18 project teams from China, Japan and the ROK attended the Finals, which were broadcast live through the NetEase platform, attracting a viewing audience of over 710,000 in total from China, Japan and the ROK.

Fu Gui said that China, Japan and the ROK were close neighbors, separated merely by a strip of waters, and natural partners, where friendly cooperation served the fundamental interests of the three peoples, contributing to regional prosperity and stability. This success would build a bridge to facilitate communication and cooperation between young scholars and entrepreneurs from the three countries, exploring a new way of China-Japan-ROK cooperation from technology to industry, from innovation to entrepreneurship, and from exchange to friendship, so as to pragmatically promote the sustained, healthy and stable development of China-Japan-ROK relations.

Figure: Fu Gui, Grade-4 Staff Member (at Deputy-Bureau-Director Level) of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center and former Counsellor from the Office for Science and Technology at the Embassy of China in the ROK, Delivering a Speech Online

Zeng Wufei said that Guangming Science City, as a forerunner for the construction of the Greater Bay Area Comprehensive National Science Center, was now sparing no effort to build an original source of innovation, a pilot area of scientific research and economy, and a gathering place for innovation talents. The Finals held in Guangming District would give fully play to the advantage of Guangming Science City in scientific and technological innovation resources, attracting top-ranked projects and professional talent teams to Guangming District, and serving as an important platform for the excellent youth innovation technology projects from the three countries to explore a new path for innovation cooperation, so as to facilitate their partnership and foster their further development.

Figure: Zeng Wufei, Member of Standing Committee and Director of Organization Department of CPC Guangming District Committee, Delivering a Speech Online

Haruko Yoneyama, Executive Director of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and Jung Uoo Chang, Chief Representative of Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in China, said that the Finals were of great significance to promoting the youth innovation entrepreneurship cooperation and technology exchanges between China, Japan and the ROK, and made positive comments on the favorable environment for entrepreneurship and innovation in Shenzhen, looking forward to more scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation in the future. In addition, Yin Manlin from Shenzhen Guangming District Science and Technology Innovation Bureau introduced the industrial development characteristics and entrepreneurship & talent introduction related policies in Guangming District, and 6 excellent youth innovation talents, representatives from innovative enterprises and experts in international cooperation from China, Japan and the ROK had in-depth exchange of views on scientific and cultural exchanges, scientific and technological development, innovation & entrepreneurship, international cooperation, etc.

Figure: Thematic Seminar

In more than 100 entries from Japan and the ROK to the Finals, 18 were shortlisted after rounds of review and selection, where the top three from each country, six projects altogether, received unanimous praise from judges for their high level of technological innovation and bright market prospects. After the final selection, matchmaking and negotiation between over 20 key enterprises as well as institutions from Guangming District and the shortlisted projects from Japan and the ROK was arranged for 45 times in the form of one-to-one meeting, follow-up communication, etc., which effectively enhanced mutual understanding and laid a foundation for future cooperation.

Figure: Winning Projects of 2022 China-Japan-ROK Youth Innovation Cooperation Matchmaking and Competitio