Shanghai’s Global Entrepreneurship Connection made its international debut in London in June during London Tech Week.
In 2026, Shanghai Technology Innovation Center (STIC), serving as the coordinator, together with the first cohort of 25 local incubators and service providers from Shanghai, launched the Global Entrepreneurship Connection (GEC). The goal of the GEC and its members is to organise events and programs aimed at helping overseas tech-SMEs land in Shanghai and assisting local ones in expanding globally.
A major GEC delegation, comprising representatives from 16 Shanghai organisations and enterprises, came to London Tech Week 2026. They aimed to facilitate market access for Shanghai tech-enterprises in international markets, while serving as a showcase of Shanghai’s dynamic innovation landscape. All were welcome to see, understand, and step into Shanghai’s vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship.
Organisations that attended included YobIAI, DUCO Robots, Skynor Medical, and more.
Also part of the program was the WeStart Top100 London session held alongside Sinnobator. It is the flagship track of the “Startup in Shanghai” International Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition. Designed to discover high-potential deep-tech ventures worldwide, WeStart serves as a bridge connecting international startups with Shanghai’s capital ecosystem
A total of 10 early-stage projects from the UK and elsewhere in Europe, each with independent intellectual property rights and strong technological capabilities, were shortlisted for live pitch presentations. They were judged by a professional jury panel composed of senior industry experts and investors from both China and the UK, who evaluated the projects across five key dimensions: market potential, business model viability, technological innovation, team strength, and global scalability.
The two winning enterprises advanced to the semifinal roadshow round to be held in Shanghai in September. Ori Biotech won first place on the strength of its core team and biotechnology capabilities, while SustainGRC secured the runner-up position.
London Tech Week is designed to bring together the innovators creating the technologies of the future, the investors who fund them and the enterprise tech leaders who adopt them. This year’s event took place from June 8th to June 10th at Olympia London. Exhibitors and guests explored cutting-edge trends such as AI, quantum computing, life sciences, space tech, robotics and more.
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