The OCEANS 2026 Sanya and the Deep-Sea Science and Technology Industry Competition (Hainan Sanya) of the 5th WRSA (Western Returned Overseas Chinese) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition were both launched in South China’s Hainan Province recently, bringing together domestic and overseas experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, and industry elites to engage in in-depth discussions on hot topics such as marine technology, the marine economy, and deep-sea industries.

The Deep-Sea Science and Technology Industry Competition (Hainan Sanya) of the 5th WRSA Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was officially launched on June 8.

On May 26, OCEANS, widely regarded as a bellwether in the global marine engineering and technology sector, debuted in Sanya. One of the world's largest academic conferences and exhibitions for marine science and technology, this year's edition attracted nearly 750 experts, scholars, and industry elites from 26 countries and regions.

Hainan University successfully won the bid to host the conference, making it the second university in the Chinese mainland to host this top-tier international event, following Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Focusing on marine-related frontier fields, the conference featured several thematic sessions, including deep-sea exploration and archaeology, deep-sea mining and environmental assessment, marine artificial intelligence (AI), underwater sensor networks, offshore wind power, and polar observation.

On the sidelines of the main event, technical tutorials, high-end forums, and a marine equipment technology exhibition were held. A total of 51 domestic and foreign exhibitors gathered to showcase their latest technological achievements and equipment.

The conference chose to release its major fruits collectively on June 8, World Oceans Day, calling for global consensus and joint action to protect and manage the oceans. Hainan authorities stated that the province will take this opportunity to further deepen international cooperation in marine science and technology, accelerate the commercialization of scientific achievements, and make every effort to contribute its efforts to transforming China into a strong maritime power.

On the same day, the Deep-Sea Science and Technology Industry Competition (Hainan Sanya) of the 5th WRSA Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was officially launched. The event features two firsts: the first time the competition is being held in Hainan and the first time a dedicated track has been set up for the deep-sea science and technology industry.

An official from the Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City gave a detailed presentation on the competition rules, supporting industrial facilities, preferential policies, schedule, and award arrangements.

The WRSA Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition is a national-level event tailored for Chinese overseas returnees. Over its past four editions, it has attracted more than 6,000 sci-tech innovation projects, becoming a vital platform that connects global innovation resources and boosts domestic industrial upgrading.

Themed "Overseas Talents Pool Wisdom for a New Era, Gathering Strength to Win New Development," the Sanya division focuses on four major areas of development: deep-sea descent, deep-sea exploration, deep-sea development, and deep-sea protection.

The event is currently soliciting innovative and entrepreneurial projects worldwide in fields such as deep-sea equipment, exploration technology, new marine materials, marine information technology, and marine biological resources.

The competition is divided into a Startup Group and a Creative Group. The preliminary rounds, finals, and award ceremonies will be held in Sanya this September. Winning projects will receive comprehensive support, including policy incentives and financial assistance, to facilitate their implementation.