HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneur Summit Concludes

On August 29, the four-day HICOOL 2026 Global Entrepreneur Summit concluded at the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall).

The summit featured the Opening Ceremony and Global Entrepreneurship Competition Awards Ceremony, the main forum, more than 50 events across eight sub-stages, and five themed exhibition areas. It focused on cutting-edge topics including artificial intelligence (AI), embodied intelligence, quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). A total of 200 cutting-edge technology and high-quality entrepreneurship projects were presented. The summit also featured multiple industrial dialogues and innovation-oriented matchmaking activities connecting governments, industries, academia, research institutions, financial institutions, and end users. Over 600 high-tech innovative enterprises, more than 1,000 investors, and over 50,000 other attendees from more than 30 countries and regions attended the summit.

The summit's venue

[Photo via the hosting party]

Four major achievements were announced during the opening ceremony.

1. Kai-Fu Lee, Honorary Dean of HICOOL Business School, and Bill Reichert, Co-founder of the Startup World Cup, jointly released the 2026 Global Entrepreneur Insights Report, which introduced the new concept of "camel companies", described as enterprises characterized by short closed-loop cycles, ease of launch, and strong viability.

2. The Global Entrepreneurship Service Alliance was officially established, bringing together over 200 global entrepreneurship service providers. The Global OPC Support Plan was launched in the meantime.

3. Cheng Heping, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led the launch of a program titled "The Virtualized, Verifiable, Integrated Twin Architecture for Life".

4. An academy for robots' autonomous evolution was introduced on August 29, which is aimed at advancing robots from "passive imitation" toward "autonomous evolution". This academy is jointly developed by a team led by Richard S. Sutton, the 2024 Turing Award winner, and Tashan Technology, a HICOOL winner.

The main forum explored four themes: sources of innovation, technological inflection points, AI applications in the real world, and global business expansion. Speakers estimated that China's annual robot production would exceed 100,000 units in 2026. Participants also exchanged views on the commercialization of large-scale models, the application of embodied intelligence, and enterprises' global competitiveness. HICOOL signed a memorandum of understanding with the Abu Dhabi Investment Group to support the implementation of outstanding projects in the Middle East and Africa.

A wide range of international thematic events were also held, including the China-ROK Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Forum and the Central Asia Innovation Industry Forum. The World-Class Universities Exhibition Area presented more than 70 cutting-edge startup projects from over 20 renowned universities. The newly-launched HICOOL YOUNG section hosted events including the Youth AI Art Exhibition and HICOOL Young - Future Talent Forum, expanding the innovation ecosystem to include the next generation.

A total of 50 events were held across eight sub-stages, covering every segment from technology development to market application. The HICOOL Parlor hosted multiple specialized thematic forums. The International Job Fair made its debut, with 32 leading companies recruiting on site. The five exhibition areas provided a comprehensive overview of achievement demonstration, industrial implementation, original innovation, international collaboration, and capital support.

(Source: The Beijing News)