Nantong lights up at night. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The 16th China Nantong Jianghai Talent Entrepreneurship Week, a major annual draw for high-caliber professionals and entrepreneurs, will kick off on July 12, according to a press conference on July 7.

This year's event is closely aligned with Nantong's established industrial pillars and emerging strategic sectors. The agenda includes an opening ceremony, six municipal-level thematic sub-events, and nine district-specific activities, all designed to showcase the city's vibrant innovation environment and pro-business climate.

About 500 participants are expected to attend the opening ceremony. The guest list includes academicians and professors from top universities, high-caliber innovators from both China and abroad, executives from leading corporations and venture capital firms, recipients of various talent subsidies, and emerging young professionals.

During the main ceremony, the city will officially release its measures to support marine talent development, a new talent-focused investment fund, and a series of AI application scenarios. Concurrent forums on marine industries, new energy, and AI will bring together domain experts to share forward-looking perspectives and offer practical recommendations for industrial upgrading.

Over its 15-year history, the event has brought together more than 2,200 distinguished experts and investors, facilitated over 1,200 talent-led projects, and attracted over 14 billion yuan ($2.06 billion) in combined funding — cementing its lasting role in driving both talent gathering and industrial growth in Nantong.