Trainees of the Zhongshan-Silicon Valley Direct Train Program (Phase II ) share their learning experiences. [Photo/Tan Huajian]

Five entrepreneurs of the Zhongshan-Silicon Valley Direct Train Program (Phase II ) joined the sharing session a few days ago to share their experiences of studying in Silicon Valley over the past three months.

The Direct Train program is organized across Zhongshan and San Francisco by the Zhongshan Science and Technology Bureau, Gungho Space (Zhongshan) and SkyDeck, an official establishment of University of California, Berkeley in the US. Young entrepreneurship projects and high-tech entrepreneurship projects from Zhongshan, or even from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are solicited and ultimately selected project teams will be sent to SkyDeck for a three-month intensive training.

Upon completion of the training, these projects can settle in Gungho Space free of charge and will be entitled to sustainable start up services in all respects with more chances for access to Zhongshan's startup support funds.

Gonghe Space (Zhongshan) opened in April this year, with 18 companies that have already settled in, 40% of which are projects from Hong Kong and Macao.

Zeng Jingqiang, born in 1990, got the most out of the program. He established Zhongshan Hejia'ankang Biotechnology Co Ltd in ZOS-Park in December 2016.

During the three-year incubation period in ZOS-Park, its smart pension project has been applied in some nursing homes. With the system, traditional nursing homes are able to improve their management efficiency and optimize user experience.

Zeng Jingqiang indicated that Zhongshan with a sound biomedical industry chain, low supply chain costs and broad prospects focuses on supporting the development of the biomedical industry. The government is very supportive of smart pension projects. Zhongshan also has obvious geographic advantages and a good entrepreneurial atmosphere. "Through the Direct Train program, we have raised our awareness of innovation and entrepreneurship, and we also get in contact with local pension agencies in the US for further cooperation," said Zeng Jingqiang.