The HICOOL 2021 Global Entrepreneur Summit and Entrepreneurship Competition (HICOOL 2021) will kick off on April 16, 2021. One hundred million yuan will be rewarded in prize money, and over the next four months, the competition organizer will select outstanding entrepreneurs and startup projects from around the world that made an impact during 2020. After rounds of primary screening, candidates will undergo the preliminaries, before being further rattled down for semi-finals and the final. There will be an award ceremony at the summit in late August, which will take place at the New China International Exhibition Center in Shunyi, Beijing.

People from more than 100 countries and regions will submit thousands of projects and compete in the following sectors: AI/Fintech, medicine & health, next-generation IT, new energy/new materials/energy conservation and environmental protection, high-end equipment, and cultural creativity. One hundred million yuan will be shared in prize money among 140 stand-out entries. Preferential policies will also be extended to the winners in 2021, meaning that more global entrepreneurs will have access to HICOOL's exclusive preferential policies.

The first HICOOL took place in Beijing last year. Entry was limited to overseas Chinese and foreign talents who had intentions of starting businesses in Beijing. Eighty million yuan was rewarded in prize money and there was a supporting VC fund of 1 billion yuan. In total, HICOOL 2020 attracted 2,026 outstanding projects from 82 countries.