On August 20 and 21, trials of the New Energy Industry Track of the 2025 BRICS Industrial Innovation Contest were officially held in the Zhaoqing High-tech Industry Development Zone (Dawang), Guangdong Province.
Launched in June, the competition attracted over 200 prospective innovation projects from enterprises and research institutions across BRICS nations, covering cutting-edge fields such as photovoltaic materials, sodium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and solar-powered hydrogen production. After preliminary rounds, 68 projects were shortlisted for the final selection stage.
During the event, participants competed across three dedicated arenas: Photovoltaics, Energy Storage, and the Gaodingduan Sci-Tech Innovation Corridor. Several projects demonstrating technological breakthroughs and strong industrial potential emerged as highlights of the competition.
Notably, nearly half of the outstanding projects showcased in the Gaodingduan Sci-Tech Innovation Corridor have reached preliminary cooperation agreements with local enterprises in the Zhaoqing High-tech Industry Development Zone, underscoring the attractiveness for industrial application and transformation of Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area.
In recent years, as the host of the event, Zhaoqing High-tech Industry Development Zone has focused on advancing industries such as new energy vehicles and next-generation energy storage, establishing a complete industrial chain and innovation ecosystem. In the first half of this year, leading enterprises in the region posted strong performances: XPeng Motors produced 88,700 vehicles, and the Phase II energy storage container workshop of Ruiqing Times officially launched production in June.
Driven by these leading enterprises, the Zone has developed a comprehensive new energy industrial chain spanning from core components to complete vehicle manufacturing and from energy storage technologies to new energy applications. Currently, the region hosts over 80 enterprises across the entire value chain, including electric vehicles, batteries, key components, lightweight materials, and the aftermarket—positioning it as a core hub of Guangdong's strategic emerging industries cluster in new energy.
According to an official of the Zone, it will continue to provide full-spectrum support for participating projects—from R&D to commercialization—to foster the integration of global innovation resources with local industrial strengths. The competition is expected to further propel the region's new energy sector toward high-end, clustered, and international development trajectories.
Author: Liu Hanze (intern), Wei Shen
Photo: Publicity Department of Zhaoqing
Editor: James Campion, Shen He
