From October 27th to 31st, the 18th “Challenge Cup” National College Students' Extracurricular Academic and Scientific Work Competition finals concluded with an impressive closing ceremony. The event was co-hosted by Guizhou University and several major organizations including the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, the China Association for Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Education.

During the ceremony, Song Baoan, GZU President and Chinese Academy of Engineering Academician, on behalf of the organizers, delivered a speech. Yuan Yaxiang, Director of the National Judging Committee and Vice President of the China Association for Science and Technology, reported on the competition's judging process. Notaries and award-winning teams also shared their speeches and experiences.

The event witnessed the signing of agreements between 21 teams from the special “Leaderboard Challenge” competition and various organizations, ensuring continued support and funding for transforming students' scientific innovations into practical applications. The Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology announced new policies to foster youth innovation and entrepreneurship.

The organizing committee announced 117 grand prizes, 203 first prizes, 377 second prizes, and 974 third prizes for the main competition, along with additional awards for the red-themed projects and 'black technology' exhibition. Nanjing University was selected to host the 19th 'Challenge Cup' Competition. In particular, 'Challenge Cup' and 'Victory Cup were awarded to universities. Hu Sheng, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, and Deputy Governor Dong Jialu awarded the 'Challenge Cup' to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 51 universities, including Southeast University, received the 'Victory Cup',

This year's competition, attracting participation from over 2,000 universities nationwide with more than 400,000 entries and over 2.5 million students, introduced a '1+1+2' structure, consisting of the main competition, the special “Leaderboard Challenge” competition, the special red-themed projects, and the “black technology” exhibition. The entries highlighted a range of innovative projects, with substantial participation from central and western universities and vocational colleges, reflecting a commitment to practical education and innovation.

The event, drawing an unprecedented level of participation, emphasized educational effectiveness, fairness, and the showcasing of local characteristics, significantly contributing to student scientific and technological innovation. The event, being held for the first time in a southwestern university, successfully integrated diverse elements, including red culture, technology, youth involvement, and regional characteristics of Guizhou.

Editor: Pang Aizhong

Chief Editor: Li Xufeng  

Senior Editor: Yang Nan

Translator: Nie Xiaoxia