Cambridge University won the 7th China UK Entrepreneurship Competition

Organized by the University of East Anglia, Lancaster University, University College London, and Edinburgh University, the final of the 7th China UK Entrepreneurship Competition was successfully hosted in Bank of China London, Team Elves Biotech from university of Cambridge wins the first prize. Team H2GO Power from university of Cambridge wins the second prize. The joint third prize is awarded to the Team DiagMole from University of Nottingham and the Team Blue Sky from Lancaster University.

The China-UK Entrepreneurship Competition, now in its 7th year, is an internationally successful initiative which encourages new business ventures between China and the UK and was launched in East Anglia at UEA in January.

Minister Counsellor Futao Chen of Chinese Embassy London addressed this event, he highly commented on the China UK Entrepreneurship Competition’s role on helping the “death valley” of innovation between the two countries. Others spoke at the event include Barry Sheerman MP, the Chair of UK Skills Commission; Jazreel Goh, the education marketing director of British Council China who will talk about China UK Education opportunities during the event and Prof Richard Harrison, chair of innovation and entrepreneurship at Edinburgh University.

Mr. Jagpal Gups, Deputy Director of UCL Advances introduced the background of the competition, which aims to encourage new commercial relationships between China and the UK and is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early-stage investors and venture capital firms. It is open to university teams in the UK and China and existing businesses.

The judging panel was Chaired by Prof. David Brown from Lancaster University, members include: Dr John French, chair of the Low Carbon Innovation Fund at UEA’s Adapt Low Carbon Group; Mr. Peter Manning, head of international trade from Essex County Council. Mr. Ashley Goodall, principal of Hybrid Communications; Mr. Ben Brabyn, chief operating officer at UKTI Innovation Gateway; Mr. Mark Hedley, China Business Adviser for the China-Britain Business Council.

Dr Yu Xiong, a senior lecturer of University of East Anglia, is a lead organizer of the competition, he said: “The link of technology and innovation between China and the UK is becoming more and more important and the China UK Entrepreneurship Competition aims to encourage more ideas to strengthen the link and bring together a better collaboration of the two countries.”