The 2015 China (Zhanjiang) Marine Science and Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition was launched in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong province, on Oct 13.

Officials, representatives of professional investment institutions and innovative entrepreneurial teams attended the launch ceremony.

The competition that aims to become the most influential technology event for China's marine industry will take place in four cities, namely Zhanjiang, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Qingdao.

Participants will be divided into three groups as maker innovation group, entrepreneurial team group and start-ups group.

Winners can enjoy a number of preferential policies if they choose to settle in the Fenyong New and High-Tech Development Zone and Southern Maritime Valley in Zhanjiang. The preferential policies include free office for three years, free apartment for one year, entrepreneurship training services, angel funds and venture capital funds.

Meanwhile, promising projects, marine innovation and entrepreneurship projects in particular, can have the priority to settle in Shenzhen incubation base.

The final event of the competition will take place ahead of the 2015 China Marine Economy Expo, which will be held from Nov 26 to 29 in Zhanjiang. All the projects participating in the competition will be on exhibition at the expo.

The competition was sponsored by the Zhanjiang Municipal Government and organized by the Zhanjiang Science and Technology Bureau, the Zhanjiang Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and Zhanjiang Federation of Trade Unions.

The launch ceremony of the 2015 China (Zhanjiang) Marine Science and Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition is held in Zhanjiang on Oct 13. [Photo/yinsha.com]

Ou Xianwei, head of Zhanjiang Science and Technology Bureau, gives a speech at the launch ceremony in Zhanjiang on Oct 13. [Photo/yinsha.com]