Now in its 14th year, ITEC is one of China’s largest cross-border startup competitions — backed by the Chaoyang District government, packed with new tracks, and offering over RMB 55 million in prizes across 86 award slots.
What’s even better? This year, ITEC has teamed up with Startup Alliance — a startup ecosystem that helps international founders land in Chaoyang with free office space, housing subsidies, company registration, and full policy support. Win or perform strongly, and you don’t just get prize money. You get a complete, cost-free launchpad into China’s most startup-friendly district.
Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Sign up
Register at https://www.exploreitec.com/ and submit your project. That’s it. No hidden steps, no upfront costs.
The 2026 Prize Pool
86 award slots | RMB 55 million+ total
- Grand Prize (1 winner): RMB 5 million
- First Prize (5 winners): RMB 2 million each
- Second Prize (10 winners): RMB 1.5 million each
- Third Prize (15 winners): RMB 1 million each
- Rising Star Award (20 winners): RMB 300,000 each
- Innovation Recognition Award (35 winners): RMB 100,000 each
What’s New at ITEC 2026
Award-Investment-Loan model: ITEC has assembled the ITEC Investment Consortium with CICC Capital, Hillhouse Capital, Huachuang Capital, and others. Support now extends from post-competition awards to investment matchmaking during the competition and credit support afterward.
New tracks: Smart Hardware, Embodied Intelligence, Smart Eldercare, and Aerospace, alongside an expanded Talent Track with dedicated categories for returnees, PhD talent, and One-Person Companies (OPCs).
40+ industrial parks: Each track is co-organized with a Chaoyang industrial park, so winning projects are seamlessly matched with the right ecosystem partners from day one.
Step 2: Win (or enter the pipeline)
Winning projects get automatically connected to Startup Alliance — this year’s official ecosystem partner. Startup Alliance manages the International Talent Entrepreneurship Park in Guomao and exists to help international founders land and grow in Chaoyang at minimal to zero cost.
But you don’t have to win a top prize. High-potential participants in Startup Alliance’s Venture Builders program get directly recommended to ITEC. And strong performers in ITEC, even without top awards, can still access Startup Alliance’s incubation support.
The pathway catches talent at every level.
Step 3: Land in Chaoyang with zero startup costs
Once you’re connected to Startup Alliance, the usual barriers disappear.
What Startup Alliance provides to incubated startups at no cost:
- Free office space at the 4,000 sqm International Talent Entrepreneurship Park in Guomao
- Full company registration — no legal fees, no navigating Chinese bureaucracy alone
- Direct access to the “Chaoyang 15” policy package — 15 government benefits that cover the full startup lifecycle. Key highlights include: housing support (up to 3 months free upon arrival plus long-term rent subsidies), R&D subsidies and computing resource vouchers, first-loan interest subsidies and angel-financing rewards, application-scenario pilot opportunities, and fast-track approvals for foreign-founded companies.
- Mentorship from experienced founders and industry experts
- Access to Lingxin Capital (Startup Alliance’s strategic investment arm) and a broader investor network
- A community of 500+ founders, regular events, and Demo Days
Startup Alliance’s policy team handles every application. You don’t navigate any of this alone.
Step 4: Build
That’s it. You compete. You connect. You land. And then you build — with office space, housing, registration, mentorship, and policy support already handled.
ITEC 2026 has removed every barrier that normally stops international founders before they even start.
Ready to start?
Apply at: https://www.exploreitec.com/
Questions? Contact the organizing committee: hello@exploreitec.com
Stay updated: Follow ITEC on LinkedIn
ITEC gives you the competition. Startup Alliance gives you the landing pad. Startup starts here.