Registration Open — April to July 2026

Your gateway to
China's market.
Guided every step.

We Empower helps Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking innovators compete in the world's first sci-tech competition dedicated to their communities — and win, with expert guidance from pitch to prize.

€25M
Total prize pool
100
Winners selected
20%
Win rate
€1.8M
First prize

What is this competition?

The International Sci-Tech Innovation Competition for China and Portuguese- and Spanish-Speaking Countries is a first-of-its-kind government-backed initiative connecting innovators from Lusophone and Hispanic regions directly to the Chinese market.

Organized by the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the competition runs April to November 2026 — with roadshows in Lisbon, São Paulo, and Macao, and the Grand Finals held in Hengqin, China.

This is not just a competition. It is a full-cycle market entry program — with funding, mentoring, industry connections, and 12 months of post-competition support.

Key facts
📅
Competition Period
April – November 2026
🗺️
Competition Hubs
Hengqin · Macao · Lisbon · São Paulo
🏆
Prize Pool
€25M total — 100 winning slots
📋
Registration Deadline
Open April – July 2026
🌐
Official Website

We don't just submit your application.
We prepare you to win.

Think of us as your dedicated pitching team — the same support that top startups get before presenting to venture capital firms, now available to you for this competition.

🎯

Application strategy

We assess your project and map it to the right competition track, ensuring your application leads with what the judges are looking for.

💡

Pitch coaching & storytelling

We refine how you present your innovation — from executive summary to pitch deck — using proven frameworks drawn from VC and investor readiness standards.

🤝

Mentorship & expert review

You'll get structured feedback sessions with mentors who understand the Chinese market and what it takes to impress an international judging panel.

📊

Business model clarity

We help you sharpen your financials, articulate your market opportunity, and position your China expansion thesis compellingly.

🌏

China market navigation

We brief you on the Hengqin–Macao ecosystem, tax incentives, regulatory landscape, and what investors and partners in China expect from foreign ventures.

🚀

End-to-end support

From your first submission through roadshows and into the Grand Finals in Hengqin — we're by your side at every stage, maximizing your chances of selection.

Six tracks aligned with your strengths

Projects with advanced technologies and China expansion goals are all welcome. Each track maps to key industries in the Hengqin–Macao development zone.

🤖
Digital Intelligence & Artificial Intelligence
🌱
Green Energy & Sustainable Development
⚙️
High-End Manufacturing & New Materials
🏥
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Health Innovation
🎭
Culture, Tourism, Exhibition & Trade
🌾
Modern Agriculture

Who can apply?

The competition welcomes innovative projects from Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking regions with a clear technology component and no intellectual property disputes.

🏢 Companies Startup Group

  • Unlisted companies legally registered in Portuguese-speaking, Spanish-speaking countries, or Macao, China
  • Clear technology element at the core of your product or service
  • No ongoing intellectual property disputes
  • Early-stage companies apply to the Startup Group

👥 Startup Teams Growth Group

  • Teams with citizens of Portuguese- or Spanish-speaking countries, or Macao, as key members
  • Early-stage projects enter the Startup Group; more developed ventures apply to the Growth Group
  • Project must have advanced technologies with ambition to enter the Chinese market
  • No requirement to be a registered company — teams are welcome
Portugal Brazil Angola Mozambique Cape Verde Guinea-Bissau São Tomé and Príncipe Equatorial Guinea Timor-Leste Spain Mexico Colombia Argentina Chile Peru Venezuela Ecuador Bolivia Paraguay Uruguay Cuba Dominican Republic + others Macao, China

What winners receive

100 winners across two groups, each earning cash prizes plus settling-in support, access to 50+ private equity funds, and 12 months of follow-up. All winners are invited to Hengqin.

Startup Group — 50 winners
🥇 First Prize (×1) €1,800,000
🥈 Second Prize (×6) ~€550,000
🥉 Third Prize (×10) ~€180,000
⭐ Merit Award (×33) Cash prize
Growth Group — 50 winners
🥇 First Prize (×1) €1,800,000
🥈 Second Prize (×6) ~€550,000
🥉 Third Prize (×10) ~€180,000
⭐ Merit Award (×33) Cash prize
Settling-in support
Operational costs (office, legal, utilities) can be deducted directly from prize amount
Funding access
Matched to 50+ private equity funds based on your track and stage
12-month follow-up
Dedicated support for talent settlement, market matching, and industry connections

Competition schedule

April – July 2026
Registration open
Submit your application. We Empower helps you prepare your project documentation and pitch materials before the deadline.
August 2026
Online judging
Expert review panel evaluates all submissions. Projects shortlisted for roadshows.
September – October 2026
Roadshows — Lisbon · São Paulo · Macao
In-person presentations in three cities. We Empower coaches you on live pitch delivery and Q&A preparation.
November 2026
Grand Finals — Hengqin, China
100 finalists invited to Hengqin for the final competition, due diligence, and award ceremony. Winners announced.
⏳ Registration closes July 2026

Ready to take your innovation to China?

Apply through We Empower and get the guidance, mentorship, and pitch preparation that gives your project the best possible chance of being selected. No upfront cost — we win when you win.

Apply via We Empower →

This takes you to our application form — not the official competition portal. We review every submission before forwarding.