KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — China’s HICOOL Global Startup Competition has expanded its presence in Singapore, positioning the city-state as a strategic gateway for Southeast Asian entrepreneurs seeking access to China’s industrial ecosystem and market opportunities.
The Singapore leg of the HICOOL 2026 Global Startup Competition, held from June 4 to 5 at the National University of Singapore, attracted nearly 40 teams from countries including China, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, India, France, Switzerland and Germany.
According to a statement, the event forms part of HICOOL’s “dual-hub” strategy, under which start-ups can validate research and development (R&D) in Singapore while leveraging China’s manufacturing capabilities and market scale for commercialisation and global expansion.
Participants competed for a place in the Beijing finals and a top prize of two million Chinese yuan (US$275,000), although organisers said founders were primarily drawn by opportunities for networking, business matching and market access. (US$1=RM4.11)
Projects showcased at the event spanned artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology, healthcare and green technology. AI and robotics accounted for nearly half of all entries, while sustainability-focused ventures aligned with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 also featured prominently.
Judges noted growing integration of AI across sectors such as healthcare, legal services and mining, alongside increasing commercial deployment of green technologies. They also highlighted the emergence of a business model combining Singapore-based R&D, Chinese supply chains and global market expansion.
Since 2021, over 450 Singapore-based projects have applied to HICOOL. The platform has expanded its engagement with Singapore’s innovation ecosystem through collaborations with government agencies, research institutions and entrepreneurship networks.
Winning teams from the Singapore leg will advance to the Beijing finals from late July to mid-August and participate in the HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneurs Summit, scheduled for Aug 26 to 29 and expected to attract more than 50,000 participants.
