Blue Whale 2.0: Calling Global AI+X Teams

The real challenge begins after R&D

For many technology ventures, completing R&D is only the beginning. They still need to locate genuine industrial demand, test market fit and connect with customers, industry partners and capital.

Launched in 2025, Blue Whale supports global teams at proof-of-concept and early commercialization stages through an immersive residency inside Wuxi’s industrial and innovation ecosystem.

Move technology from the lab into real industry—and turn arrival into lasting collaboration.

A Blue Whale from Paris

Paris-based Sifra Energy developed an AI method for battery health assessment that can evaluate a full pack in one second, with almost no energy use and no historical data.

Founder and CEO Dr. Xuelu Wang and project partner Rémi Papon spent two weeks in Wuxi. Visits to the Wuxi Industrial Innovation Research Institute, CEST, Yadea, Tailg and Taihu Smart Mobility helped the team clarify its validation route and build connections across industry, research, government and capital.

Season two welcomes more global AI innovation

The Talent Hub now brings together more than 60 international ventures from 13 countries and regions, including 40+ AI projects across agents, computer vision, industry, sports, law, cross-border commerce, AIGC, human-computer interaction and embodied intelligence.

Season two prioritizes AI and vertical applications while remaining open to other international technologies with clear use cases and commercialization needs.

A residency built around each project

Support is organized around the venture’s actual next step.

• Custom industry visits and real application-scenario discovery.
• Connections to government platforms, universities, laboratories, certification bodies, investors and professional partners.
• Peer exchange inside the Hub’s AI community and access to 40+ published AI scenarios.
• Roadshows, competitions and industry conversations with feedback from the Yangtze Delta ecosystem.
• Travel, accommodation, local mobility, meals and cultural experiences according to program rules.

Leave with an executable next step

Residents develop a China or Wuxi market plan, market-entry strategy or validation proposal; document initial customer, partner and investor outcomes; and complete a project presentation and interview. Ventures planning to land in Wuxi can continue into policy, company, investment, workspace and market support.

Residency and application

Location: Yangtze River Delta (Wuxi) International Talent Hub. Residency: any continuous two-week period from August to December 2026. Application window: July 28 to October 15, 2026.

Send a team profile, project or business plan, and next-stage strategy and needs to zerohourculture@163.com.