'Innovator drifters' find home in Hefei's GUi

A unique gathering took place on June 17 at Shushan Park of the Grand Union of Innovation (GUi), a global technological innovation hub for scientific breakthroughs and exceptional talent in Hefei, East China's Anhui province. 

The event brought together entrepreneurs known as "innovation drifters", individuals who have relocated to Hefei to pursue their dreams in scientific innovation.

Hosted by GUi, the event for the "innovation drifters", ranging from scientific researchers and former employees of big companies to returned university students from overseas with cutting-edge technology, aimed to provide a platform for the innovators to facilitate discussions on their needs and resources, and enable them to embark on a sound entrepreneurial journey in Hefei.

During the event, they were briefed by GUi managers about the facilities dubbed "the innovation drifters station", a comprehensive startup support hub designed for global innovators. This facility offers not only physical space but also a complete supporting system, including policy guidance, financing, legal, financial and taxation consultation services, industrial chain support and even accommodation.

Hefei now boasts 10 such stations that are operational, offering services of "a 15-day free trial and 6-month incubation support". Eligible startups can also apply for rent-free office space of up to 300 square meters for 12 months.

During the event, Lu Rongqin, founder of Zhiwei Yuhang Technology, shared his journey. Lu said the robotic dogs of his company, developed for security and inspection tasks, have found applications in various real-world scenarios, thanks to the resources and connections provided by the "innovation drifters station".

Coordinated by GUi, the robotic dogs that Lu's company developed entered a nearby subway station, marking the first quadruped robotic dogs serving in rail transit scenarios nationwide. These robotic dogs patrol the subway station, ensuring safe operations.

"The 'innovation drifters station' helped us connect with what we lacked most – real-world scenarios," said Lu.

For the robotics company, without such application scenarios, technology remains a castle in the air, he said, adding that with real scenarios like subways and campuses, the products can iterate rapidly.

The event facilitated networking among new and seasoned innovators and allowed them to share their challenges and solutions, fostering a community of mutual support.

Since its inception in June 2022, GUi has attracted over 7,000 tech companies and more than 70,000 innovators.

The 2026 Global Tech Talents Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, to be held in Hefei, is soliciting sci-tech innovation projects from global tech talents until July 31. Offering substantial prizes and support, it invites global talents to join and transform their innovative projects into reality at GUi.