The Governments of China and Spain have held a new International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the most important competition outside China, which aims to reward innovative entrepreneurial initiatives.
The University of Salamanca was represented at this important event by Juan Manuel Corchado, Professor of Computer Science and Director of the BISITE Research Group, who participated in the jury that selected the winning projects. The latest competition was sponsored by the City Council of Shenzhen; a city in southern China that has become the technological engine of the Asian giant.
Known as the Chinese Silicon Valley or the “miracle” of Shenzhen, this city in the Guangming district was declared a Special Economic Zone at the end of the 1970s. President Deng Xiaoping’s goal was to end poverty and create an exemplary city. What was once a village of farmers and fishermen was transformed into a major city, home to numerous start-ups and technology giants. Today, Shenzhen is home to thousands of high-tech companies, such as Lenovo, Huawei and Tencent. In addition, the city is home to many large electronics assembly factories, such as Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer and the most important supplier to companies such as Apple and Samsung, and one of the world’s major distribution ports.
Juan Manuel Corchado had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the major developments in Shenzhen and the Guangming district during the event organised to mark the jury’s decision on the international innovation competition. At the event, policy makers from Chinese institutions promoted these locations as spaces for entrepreneurship and innovation. In addition, the Professor, as a member of the jury, contributed his knowledge of technology.
In fact, the BISITE group, directed by Juan Manuel Corchado, is a leader in tech education with master’s degrees in smart cities and intelligent buildings, digital transformation, internet security and digital animation, among other training offers.
