The Zhongguancun administration unveils 10 lists of local brands, entrepreneurs, companies and technologies in mid-January. Zhang Wei / China Daily

A series of top 10 lists were unveiled on Jan 16 to award leading companies, entrepreneurs and technologies in Beijing's national high-tech hub Zhongguancun for accomplishments made over the last year.

The annual listing event, which began in 2009, is intended to identify and recognize excellent talent and business leaders, promote a number of top brands, and improve the local business environment.

The 2012 event was launched in August by the non-governmental organization, the Brand China Industry Union, and winners were announced following a nearly five-month process of selection and voting.

With expert panels evaluating the candidate projects, the results, made up of 10 lists, "showcased the latest achievements" in the national center for innovation, said Wang Yong, secretary general of the union.

More than just a year-end review, the listing event also serves as an incentive to create a culture of innovation, said Guo Hong, director of the Zhongguancun administrative committee, at the award ceremony.

"When we talk about Silicon Valley, we think of many technologies that have changed our lifestyles and many companies that have restructured the world's industry," he said. "But most importantly, it's a culture that encourages innovation."

The award winners have set an example for Zhongguancun's companies and entrepreneurs, and by sharing their experience, the organizers aim to promote a culture of innovation, said Liu Hang, spokesman of the administration.

The event has attracted increasing attention and won greater support from Zhongguancun-based companies over the past few years, Wang said. "This year we received more applications than in previous years," he said. "The brand of the event is becoming more recognized by companies."

In addition to those large, influential industry leaders, the lists also focus on some lesser-known but fast-rising companies and brands.

"Innovation is about the future, so we should pay more attention to new companies and new technologies," Wang explained. "We want to seek the rising stars, or the 'young sharks', with the expectation that they will grow into 'sharks' in the future."

Wang said one of the trends over the past few years is that the award-winning entrepreneurs are getting younger, and another one is that the high-tech companies are rising faster.

"But behind the fast-growing companies is an abundance of hard work," he added.

The organizers have employed multiple forms of media, including the Internet, to showcase the achievements of the winners this year and in previous years.

They also plan to publish a book to share the brand-building success stories of winners and attract wider public attention.

zhangzhao@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/18/2013 page5)