The Greater Bay Area

Guangzhou and Shenzhen

Unleash Your Inner Innovator: 6-Month Internship in Guangzhou & Shenzhen
Calling all NUS Undergraduates (Year 2 & 3)! Want to intern in the heart of a booming tech and innovation hub? Then look no further than the Greater Bay Area (GBA) – your gateway to an unforgettable 6-month internship experience in Guangzhou and Shenzhen!

Shenzhen is globally known for rapid hardware prototyping and iteration (“Shenzhen speed”). Nearby cities like Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan provide industrial clusters (electronics, appliances, robotics components, precision manufacturing). This gives founders an advantage in hardware, IoT, robotics, drones, smart devices, EV-related components, and increasingly AI + hardware. Venture capital is active across Shenzhen/Guangzhou and cross-border fundraising is enabled by Hong Kong’s financial ecosystem. Large tech firms (Tencent, Huawei, Alibaba ecosystem, etc.) and manufacturers run corporate venture and partnership programs. Government support commonly includes incubators, grants, subsidised office space, talent schemes, and innovation zones (availability and criteria vary by city and sector).

Why the GBA? Buckle Up for a Transformative Ride!
Become an Innovation Trailblazer – Immerse yourself in the electrifying energy of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, two cities pulsating with entrepreneurial spirit. The GBA is rapidly transforming into a global tech powerhouse, and you'll be right at the epicentre of this exciting journey.

Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential – Gain access to a thriving ecosystem overflowing with opportunities. Connect with like-minded individuals, collaborate with industry leaders, and turn your dreams into reality.

A Playground for Growth – Guangzhou and Shenzhen boast a robust infrastructure, a diverse talent pool, and abundant funding opportunities. Get your hands dirty in collaborative spaces, incubators, and innovation parks designed to nurture creativity and fuel your entrepreneurial spirit.

Beyond the Internship – This isn't just any internship – it's an adventure! Experience a vibrant culture, explore breathtaking landscapes, and embrace the electrifying energy of these dynamic cities.

Ready to Take the Leap?
Don't just dream it - live it! Apply for a 6-month internship in the GBA and unlock your full potential as an innovator. The Greater Bay Area awaits your ideas, your passion, and your drive.

Guangzhou and Shenzhen: Where innovation knows no limits. Make it the Journey of a Lifetime!

Find out more about GBA from social media:

Video Credits: South China Morning Post

Video Credits: New China TV

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Guangzhou, China: A Vibrant Business Hub in the Heart of Asia

Alumni Voices

Ting Chong Yong_GBA Jan24
Ting Chong Yong

NOC Greater Bay Area Alumnus | Jan 2024 Intake
Faculty of Science | Pharmaceutical Science

My six-month NOC internship in the Greater Bay Area was a transformative journey that pushed my limits and accelerated my growth. From shuttling between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to forming lasting friendships and gaining invaluable business insights, every moment was impactful. Highlights included leading a product marketing initiative, launching a podcast, and emceeing a panel discussion. This experience honed my communication, networking, and event management skills, preparing me to excel in my future career. The Greater Bay Area is where you discover your strengths and unlock your potential.

Zhang Jing Wen_GBA Jan24
Zhang Jing Wen

NOC Greater Bay Area Alumna | Jan 2024 Intake
College of Design and Engineering | Electrical Engineering

GBA, often dubbed the Silicon Valley of hardware, has always been a dream destination for engineers eager to delve into cutting-edge innovation. The NOC GBA program delivers a truly unique experience by placing students in dynamic startups, offering hands-on learning and the chance to work with emerging technologies. This exceptional opportunity is rare and has greatly contributed to my growth, both in developing technical skills as an engineer and in gaining a global perspective through immersion in a new culture and working environment. Additionally, the program introduced me to inspiring and driven entrepreneurs, fostering connections and collaboration among peers from diverse fields. Despite its brief duration, this six-month adventure will undoubtedly be the highlight of my NUS journey!

Valerie Wong_GBA Jan24
Valerie Wong

NOC Greater Bay Area Alumna | Jan 2024 Intake
NUS Business School | BBA

I recently returned from an incredible 6-month internship in Shenzhen, China. As part of the NOC GBA programme, I had the opportunity to work at August Robotics, a dynamic floor-marking robotics startup. My role as a Commercial Strategy Intern allowed me to delve into market research, spearhead a marketing analytics project, and even travel to Hong Kong for a robotics demonstration. The experience was invaluable. I not only gained a deep understanding of the robotics industry but also developed essential skills in marketing automation and business strategy. Additionally, my studies at Southern University of Science and Technology provided me with valuable insights into product branding and entrepreneurship. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the support I received from my colleagues. My time in Shenzhen has undoubtedly shaped me into a more well-rounded professional, and I’m excited to apply my learnings to my future career.

Programme Assessors

Professor Lee Tien Ming
Professor Lee Tien Ming

Professor Lee Tien Ming has been a Professor at the School of Ecology at Sun Yat-sen University since 2017, where he is also a Principal Investigator at the State Key Lab of Biological Control and a visiting fellow at the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford and manages a team of undergrads, graduates and postdocs. Prof Lee obtained his bachelor's with honours and master’s degrees from NUS before defending his PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of California, San Diego. He then completed postdoctoral fellowships at Columbia, Yale and Princeton Universities. He took a two-year hiatus from academe in 2015 and worked as a data scientist at an EdTech in New York City. He has since published over 90 Science Citation Index papers in top journals. He is interested in issues related to conservation science, socioecological systems, climate change, and sustainability. He is constantly looking to interact and work with innovative students on exciting ideas beneficial to science and society.

Professor Xiong Yi
Professor Xiong Yi

Dr. Xiong Yi is an assistant professor in the School of System Design and Intelligent Manufacturing at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). He received his Ph.D. degree in Engineering Design and Production from Aalto University, Finland, in 2016. From 2016 to 2017, he worked as a research engineer at Flanders Make, Belgium and participated in several R&D projects to develop industrial-grade additive manufacturing systems. From 2017-2020, he was a research fellow II in the digital manufacturing and design center at Singapore University of Technology and Design. His research interests include computational design and fabrication, design for additive manufacturing, adaptive process planning, design and optimization of complex engineered systems, intelligent measurement and control. Dr. Xiong has over ten years of international R&D experience, working with several projects funded by EU FP7, National Research Foundation (Singapore), Research Foundations Flanders (Belgium), and Academy of Finland. He has authored more than thirty peer-rereviewed scientific publications. Dr. Xiong also serves as a reviewer for international journals, including IEEE-ASME T MECH, IEEE Sens. J., and Rapid Prototyp.

Programme Mentors

James Bao_Profile Photo
James Bao

James Lingwei Bao is an accomplished AI professional and entrepreneur with an exceptional career spanning Fortune Global 100 companies such as Nike, Apple, Google, and Bayer. During his tenure in the United States, James led international teams to address complex technical challenges and deliver large-scale global projects. His notable achievements include developing a cutting-edge financial anti-fraud system, implementing a global supply chain management SaaS platform, and pioneering AI-powered computer vision solutions for manufacturing.

As an entrepreneur, James has successfully launched and scaled ventures that bridge the gap between innovation and business impact. His expertise extends to robotics development and intelligent decision-making systems, where he has spearheaded advancements that drive automation and smarter operational processes. He also has a proven track record of designing and executing disruptive strategies, particularly in AI-driven intelligent solutions and global product marketing. His leadership has resulted in highly successful product launches and marketing campaigns that expanded market share, boosted brand visibility, and penetrated competitive international markets.

James combines technical excellence with business acumen, excelling in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, supply chain management, and product marketing. He integrates business insights with advanced technical solutions, enabling organizations and startups to define innovative strategies, execute transformational projects, and achieve sustainable growth.

Driven by a passion for innovation and efficiency, James leverages agile and waterfall methodologies to refine business processes, lead cross-functional teams, and deliver cost-effective, high-impact results. His entrepreneurial vision, combined with hands-on leadership in cutting-edge technologies, continues to drive success in competitive, fast-evolving markets.

GBA Mentor_Leo Li
Leo Li

Leo graduated from the School of Engineering, NUS. Before venturing into his start-up, he had held the positions of Senior/Project Engineer at Surbana Jurong Corporation and Sentosa Development Corporation. In these roles, he co-led the development of numerous mega residential, industrial, leisure, and tourism projects at scales of hundreds of million SGD.

In 2019, he took the plunge and founded a start-up in Greater Bay Area, China specializing in K-12 AI education for youths aged 3 to 18. In less than 5 years, his start-up has grown exponentially, employing around 50 dedicated professionals and establishing collaborations with over 30 high-end kindergartens and international schools. The start-up currently has a student base exceeding 5,000 individuals with an annual turnover of over 5 million RMB.

Leo is actively seeking venture capital to expand his business model to the Greater Bay Area. His goal is to establish 7-10 district-level operational centres with the aim of achieving an annual revenue between 30 to 50 million RMB. Leo’s start-up also serves as a collaborative hub in partnership with local universities to train interns and offer entrepreneurial guidance to undergraduates.

China Student Advisor

Shannon Cheung_Beijing Business Pitch Mentor
Shannon Cheung

Shannon Cheung is a distinguished professional with over two decades of experience in investment, corporate finance, and banking. Currently based in Beijing, Shannon has built an impressive career marked by leadership roles in several renowned organizations, including HSBC, Arctic Capital, and Averest Capital. His expertise spans across various sectors, including healthcare, technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT), making him a versatile and highly knowledgeable figure in the finance industry.
Throughout his career, Shannon has been deeply involved in the growth and success of numerous startups. As a serial angel investor, he has invested in 40 startups, offering not only financial backing but also strategic guidance to help these companies thrive. His deep understanding of the financial markets, coupled with his hands-on approach to mentoring entrepreneurs, has been instrumental in the development of leading companies in the technology and healthcare sectors.
Shannon's achievements extend beyond his professional endeavors. He co-founded several successful startups and has been recognized for his contributions to public service by the Hong Kong SAR government, receiving the Medal of Honour in 2014 and being appointed as Justice of the Peace in 2019. These accolades underscore his commitment to both his industry and his community.
In addition to his role as Chairman and CEO of Averest Capital, Shannon is the Co-founder of Likang Life Sciences, Founding Investor and Director of Hero Entertainment, Co-founder and Vice-chairman of Global Business of VSPO, Co-founder and Director of DIB Group, Directors of All Football and Mr. Judy. He is also the Founding President of Fin Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the next generation of finance industry leaders. His dedication to fostering growth, both in businesses and in young professionals, makes him an invaluable advisor for students in China. His extensive experience, deep industry insights, and passion for mentoring position him as a highly sought-after guide for aspiring entrepreneurs and finance professionals.