China-US Makers Competition fosters cross-cultural innovation
2025/06/26
The International Youth Makers Alliancehas been officially launched in Changning District at the Shanghai leg of the 2025 China-US Young Makers Competition, aiming to establish a sustainable collaborative platform for global young innovators.
The alliance seeks to cultivate a new generation of talent with international vision and social responsibility in the AI era.
The China-US Young Makers Competition has long served as ac ross-cultural collaboration platform,fostering international exchange by encouraging young innovators to merge perspectives from both cultures. Through interdisciplinary teamwork, participants develop creative solutions to real-world problems, with innovation at the core.
Aligned with this vision, multiple Shanghai-based institutions jointly initiated theI nternational Youth Makers Allianceduring the awards ceremony. The alliance willintegrate global maker resources, build a K16 innovation education network, and promote cross-cultural creativitythrough industry-academia collaboration and international competitions, ultimately nurturing talent for the AI-driven future.
This year’s competition attracted 738 participants from 164 teams across 47 universities nationwide.Centered on the themeCo-creating the Future,contestants were encouraged to develop innovative solutions across 11 cutting-edge fields, includingresilient communities, low-carbon sustainability, AI applications, and public health.
During the offline judging session on June 21, nearly2 00 makers from universities such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tongji Universityfocused onAI and Digital-Social Transformation,presenting prototypes and technical solutions that reflected their insights into sustainable development.
One standout project,A Iways—24/7 AI Psychological Support Hotline,which won thegrand prize in the main track,demonstrated how AI can build an around-the-clock mental health assistance system, highlighting young innovators’ keen awareness of societal challenges.
After intense competition, 57 projectsacross main and sub-tracks were awarded. Thesix grand prize winners from the main track and three from sub-trackswill advance to the national finals in Beijing. Winning projects spanned diverse fields, includingAI mental health support, digital preservation of intangible cultural heritage, and smart rehabilitation devices.