Su Song Cup 2026 in China: how Russian projects get investments and enter the Chinese market

China continues to actively expand cooperation with the BRICS countries in technology, innovation and industrial development. One of the most interesting tools of such cooperation today is the “Su Song Cup” (BRICS track), which will be held in the Chinese city of Xiamen in the autumn of 2026.

For Russian startups, technology companies, research teams and investors, this is not just another international competition. In fact, it’s about accessing China’s innovation ecosystem, investment, industrial partners, and support programs that help projects expand into one of the world’s largest markets.

Of particular interest is information about the programs of grant support and support of foreign projects in Xiamen, in which promising companies can count on significant financial and organizational assistance in localizing business in China.

Why Xiamen?

In recent years, Xiamen has become one of the key centers for BRICS cooperation in innovation and high technology.

It is here that the BRICS Partnership Base for the New Industrial Revolution was established, as well as the China-BRICS incubation park for new generation scientific and technological innovations. These structures were formed as part of initiatives to develop technological cooperation between the BRICS countries and today act as platforms for international technology exchange, attracting investment and launching joint projects.

China sees Xiamen as an international innovation hub focused on attracting foreign technology, research teams and high-tech companies. To do this, the city is creating an infrastructure to support startups, technological enterprises and scientific developments.

What is the Su Song Cup Competition?

Su Song Cup is an international competition of innovative technologies of the future, organized with the support of the municipal government of Xiamen and the BRICS cooperation infrastructure.

In 2026, the competition is held for the fourth time and includes a special track for BRICS countries and partner countries. Its task is to identify promising technological projects, help them find investors and accelerate the commercialization of developments.

The organizers are betting on projects that can become part of the future economy and industry.

The main directions of the competition:

• New energy and low-carbon green technologies;
• Electronic Informatics and Networks of the Future;
• biotechnology and life sciences;
• artificial intelligence;
• the digital industry;
• High-tech solutions for sustainable development;
• Marine technologies and environmental projects.

Both existing companies and technology teams of universities and research institutes can take part.

Why the competition is interesting for a Russian company n

For most Russian innovation projects, the main problem is not technology development, but business scaling.

Many start-ups successfully pass the product development stage, but face a lack of investment, a limited domestic market and difficulties in reaching the international level.

Su Song Cup actually combines several development tools at the same time:

• international presentation of the project;
• Access to Chinese investors;
• the possibility of finding industrial partners;
• integration into the BRICS ecosystem;
• Support for localization of business in China;
• Access to government programs to support innovation.

For tech companies, this can be the entry point into the Chinese market without having to build the entire infrastructure of presence from scratch.

Grants up to 3 million yuan: myth or reality?

Particular attention of Russian entrepreneurs was attracted by information about the possibility of obtaining grant support in Xiamen.

The topic was actively discussed within the framework of the BRICS Partnership Forum for a New Industrial Revolution, which was held in May 2026 in China. The forum was devoted to the development of smart manufacturing, digital transformation of industry and international technological cooperation.

According to representatives of the Russian-Chinese Research Center for Digital Economy, there are already real examples of Russian projects in Xiamen that received support and were able to start working on the Chinese market.

Interestingly, in some cases, the main asset was not financial investments from entrepreneurs, but the technology itself, intellectual property and innovative ideas.

This approach fits well into the modern Chinese development model, where regional authorities compete to attract promising technologies and teams capable of creating new sectors of the economy.

Although the specific conditions for granting grants depend on the stage of the project, the industry and the format of business localization, the practice of supporting foreign technology companies in Xiamen already has confirmed examples of implementation.

Which projects have the greatest chances

Judging by the priorities of the organizers and the development strategy of Xiamen, the projects related to:

• artificial intelligence;
• industrial automation;
• robotics;
• green energy;
• battery technology;
• digital platforms;
• biotechnology;
• medical developments;
• new materials;
• the industrial Internet;
• Intelligent production systems.

These areas are the focus of both Chinese investors and government innovation support programs.

What the winners get

The competition does not only include cash prizes.

According to the organizers, the winners get access to investment funds, support programs, expert mentoring, platforms for piloting technologies and services for starting a business in Xiamen.

The main prize of the competition is 1 million yuan, and the overall support package includes additional funding mechanisms and assistance in the commercialization of projects.

For Russian companies, this means an opportunity not just to win the competition, but to get a full-fledged tool for international development.

Why we need to act now

Applications are now open and registration time is limited.

The competition is focused on projects with a confirmed technological base and the presence of own intellectual property rights. An additional advantage is the availability of investments or the passage of at least one investment round.

Competition is expected to be high. In previous seasons, the organizers received hundreds of applications from dozens of countries, and the number of participants from BRICS countries is constantly growing.

For Russian start-ups and technology companies, this is one of the few international tools that allows them to simultaneously access the Chinese market, investments, production partners and the BRICS support infrastructure.

Increasingly, global competition is not between individual companies, but between innovation ecosystems.

Xiamen has consistently shaped such an ecosystem, bringing together government support, investment capital, technology parks and international cooperation within BRICS.

For Russian projects, participation in the Su Song Cup can become not just a competition, but a real opportunity to reach a new level of development, attract investment, receive support for localizing business in China and integrate into one of the fastest growing innovation platforms in Asia.

In the context of global economic transformation, such opportunities are rare. And now Russian technology companies have a chance to take advantage of them.

Key timing:

Registration: May – June 2026
Semifinals (online): July 2026
Final (full-time, Xiamen): end of October 2026

Important: Projects should have independent intellectual property rights. Priority: At least one round of investment.
We need to get on very fast!
Registration is underway.

For all questions of participation please contact:

In Russia: Olga Lisienko, tel. +79139467975. The representative in Xiamen will provide full support for the preparation and support of the application.

Organizers: China-BRICS Innovation Park supported by President Xi Jinping.