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The opening ceremony of the Cross-Strait Youth Innovation and Startup Competition is held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, on May 29. [Photo/Tide News]

The Shaoxing session of the 2025 Zhejiang-Taiwan Cooperation Week opened on May 29, alongside the launch ceremony of the Cross-Strait Youth Innovation and Startup Competition.

Representatives of Taiwan-based enterprises and cross-Strait youth delegates gathered to explore industrial cooperation, talent exchange, and youth innovation and startup. The event featured promotion of Shaoxing's investment environment and announced talent initiatives for the Cross-Strait (Shaoxing) Digital Industry Cooperation Zone.

Shaoxing has long been a favored place for Taiwan investment. Since its establishment in 2023, the Cross-Strait (Shaoxing) Digital Industry Cooperation Zone has secured 31 Taiwan-funded projects, with a total investment of 59.78 billion yuan ($8.32 billion).

To encourage innovation and startup among young talents across the Strait, the 2025 Cross-Strait Youth Innovation and Startup Competition was officially launched during the event.

The competition features four tracks: Green Economy, Digital Future, Health Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing. It will run from May through November. Projects with innovation and market potential will receive policy support, funding, and access to resource networks.

Eight projects were signed during the event, covering fields like digital industries and smart manufacturing. These projects include academic research collaboration, financial support for Taiwan businesses in Shaoxing, and initiatives to boost cross-Strait youth talent exchanges.