Future Manufacturing-themed innovation challenge kicks off in Xi'an

The launch ceremony of the 15th China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (Xi'an Innovation Challenge) and its Future Manufacturing Special Competition took place from Oct 21 to 22 in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Two sessions of the Future Manufacturing Special Competition were held right after the opening ceremony on the morning of Oct 21. Centering on 76 technical demands in semiconductors and photonics, oil and gas energy, and other key sectors, the event hosted on-site competitions and industry demand-matching meetings.

A total of 70 preliminary cooperation agreements were finalized, 97 percent of which focus on technological and product research and development, with the total intended contractual value exceeding 200 million yuan ($29.97 million). The event also helped local enterprises recruit 11 technical deputy chiefs from universities, establishing a long-term university-enterprise collaborative mechanism.

The two-day event gathered over 200 offline participants, including representatives from industrial enterprises, universities and professional service institutions, while relevant live broadcasts attracted more than 30,000 online views.