On April 8, the 2025 "Rongpiao Cup" High-Level Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition Overseas Key Regional Special Competition (German Region) officially kicked off at Technical University of Aachen, Germany, under the guidance of the Sichuan Provincial Party Talent Work Leading Group Office.
Thiscompetition focuses on cutting-edge fields such as information technology, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology, aiming to build a bridge of high-level talent exchange between China and Germany, deepening the integration of innovation chains, Harvard, Aachen University, Tokyo, Tokyo, and Tsinghua University.
Business and political academia discuss new opportunities for cooperation
Former Aachen mayor and president of the China-Germany Friendship Cooperation Association, Udo Mattes, said in his opening remarks, "This year marks the 11th anniversary of our comprehensive strategic partnership. The 'Rongpiao Cup' competition is not only internationally recognized for Germany's innovation but also a global stage for technological transformation and resource connection." He particularly noted that Aachen, as a major German hub for technology and education, has maintained long-term friendly cooperation with cities like Chengdu and Ningbo in China, looking forward to further advancing international technological breakthroughs and business collaborations through the event.
Former mayor of Aachen, Udo Mattes, president of the China-Germany Friendship and Cooperation Association, and InnerKen angel investor and director Liu Ziwei shared a profound reflection on "How Capital Empowers Innovation": "True innovation requires both technological foresight and commercial feasibility."
Opportunities in Chengdu ignite competition enthusiasm
Participants noted that Chengdu's excellent business environment and industrial matching are the core drivers of their team's competition. "Notaris AI Document Intelligent Certification and Authentic Signing Platform" project, "Rongpiao Cup," offers dual support for project success and more opportunities.
As a joint master's degree holder and roadshow athlete from Technical University of Aachen in Germany and Georgia Tech in the United States, Yan Xin vividly describes herself as just a small tree in the "Rongpiao Cup," but through interactions and collisions with various elites, she sees the potential to become a towering tree. She said, "Competing on the same stage as hardcore technology goes far beyond mere competition."
Innovative mechanisms attract talent and gather wisdom
The event uses a "6-minute roadshow + 2-minute defense" model, with a jury of five Chinese and German experts scoring simultaneously through both online and offline channels. The participating teams need to showcase the project's value from multiple dimensions including technical feasibility, market prospects, and risk management. Worth noting is that this competition has specifically launched an online roadshow channel to attract 15 high-quality projects from Europe, showcasing the open philosophy of "gathering talents from all over the world for use." Related parties have noted that this innovative mechanism not only tests the quick response and expression skills of participating teams but also opens up new avenues for remote collaboration and exchange. After intense competition, six projects won first, second, and third prizes respectively, and will subsequently receive comprehensive support including policy assistance and financing connections.
Full-chain service escort project implementation
The 2025 "Rongpiao Cup" High-Level Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Germany Region) lasted for two months, focusing on selecting outstanding overseas talent and intellectual resources to deepen the integration of innovation chains, funding chains, and talent chains.
The competition also invited venture capital, funds, banks, and other financial institutions to integrate government-guided fund resources, provide precise connectivity services for projects, and offer competition guidance, project incubation, and market connectivity. Through a comprehensive transformation system and generous reward support, we help more talent (teams) take root and develop.
According to the organizers, the 2025 "Rongpiao Cup" High-Level Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition leverages overseas workstations, overseas student unions, country cooperation parks, and international cities to promote top-tier innovation projects.
