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Zhejiang woos Silicon Valley talents to China

ezhejiang.gov.cn| Updated: May 9, 2018 L M S

The North American divisional final of the 2018 International E-commerce Entrepreneurship Innovation Competition concluded in Silicon Valley, California, on May 5, zjol.com.cn has reported.

Nine projects focusing on the application of artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and the internet of things, were shortlisted for the final. Renowned United States enterprises attending the event included 500Startups, Plug and Play, Amazon and Intel.

Ecree, software designed to help students improve their writing ability, won the first prize. Led by a PhD team from Stanford University, the project will participate in the grand final in Zhejiang province in November.

Organized by Zhejiang Commerce Department, the international e-commerce competition, this year making its overseas debut, aims to provide a platform for e-commerce and information technology entrepreneurs and innovators connecting China and the US.

"I came to this competition because Hangzhou is a global base for e-commerce," said an entrepreneur from VTRY, a second-prize winner.

Ren Faqiang, Chinese deputy consul-general to San Francisco, noted that Zhejiang province, where the internet retail giant Alibaba is based, is a hub for global e-commerce. The future of relations between Zhejiang and Silicon Valley appear very bright, Ren said.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang's capital, is an important trading partner with the US. Data from the commerce department show that by the end of 2017 the US had invested in 6,145 companies in the province while Zhejiang had founded 1,355 companies in the US. Last year, the trade value between the two regions reached $61.94 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.6 percent.

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Winners of the North America divisional final of 2018 International E-commerce Entrepreneurship Innovation Competition receive their awards in Silicon Valley, California, on May 5. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]