On November 5, the 2024 China Top 500 Hidden Unicorn Conference was held in Qingdao. As indicated in the Development Report on 2024 China Top 500 Hidden Unicorn Enterprises released in the event, Qingdao is home to a total of 54 hidden unicorn enterprises, ranking 5th in China. Other activities took place in the conference, including the presentation of the global top 500 hidden unicorn program, launching ceremony for the “Belt and Road” business delegation composed of Chinese entrepreneurs, and the signing ceremony for strategic partners of the global top 500 hidden unicorn program and the launch event for the platform to empower sci-tech innovation-based enterprises.

Nine of 54 hidden unicorn enterprises in Qingdao have been shortlisted among the 2024 China top 500 hidden unicorn enterprises, with a total worth of RMB42.1 bln. With regard to the location, the National High-tech Industrial Development Zone and Laoshan District in Qingdao both boasts 11 hidden unicorn enterprises. With the theme “Unicorn Enterprises Creating the Leading Edge, New Productive Forces Shaping the Future”, the conference was co-sponsored by Qingdao Municipal Government and the Research Center for Chinese Private Enterprises under the Renmin University of China.  (Zhou Xiaofeng)