The 4th Zhongguancun Talent Maker Competition Global Finals were held in the Shark Space of the Four Seasons Science and Technology Center in Zhongguancun Science City on July 22, 2021, marking the conclusion of the four-month competition.

Judges and Contestants of the 4th Zhongguancun Talent Maker Competition Global Finals pose for a group photo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

After intense competition, the "High-performance Bionic SAW Filter Trailblazer" project from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and the "Dancing Finger Technology" project from Northeastern University won the innovation track and the enterprise track respectively. 

The second prize, the third prize, the most innovative creativity prize and the excellence prize were awarded to 24 other projects.

A contestant introduces the "High-performance Bionic SAW Filter Trailblazer" project from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The finals were conducted in the form of "5 minutes road show plus 3 minutes judges' questions". 

The contestants went on stage one by one according to the random lottery order to show their innovative achievements in project innovation, core competitiveness, team background, social values, and business model.

Judges from excellent entrepreneurial service organizations such as the Incremental Research Institute and Utou have professional backgrounds in investment, cultivation, management, and operation. 

The final judging team formed strictly followed the competition scoring standards around technology research and development, team management, and branding. 

Questions were raised on key content such as construction and financial planning. The contestants responded confidently and logically, winning the judges' praise. 

Since the launch of the Zhongguancun Talent Maker Competition in 2016, it has successfully held three sessions, taking advantage of the "Zhongguancun Hundred Schools Alliance" platform to integrate resources and deepen cooperation and covering more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide.

The 4th Zhongguancun Talent Maker Competition in 2021 is open to college students all over the world. The projects cover different industries such as artificial intelligence, Internet big data, electronic information, equipment manufacturing, new materials and new energy, medical health and cultural creativity.

The 64 projects that advanced to the semi-finals had a total valuation of 2.6 billion yuan ($401.7 million). Among them, the "Global Leader in Super Absorbent Materials" project from Northeast Forestry University uses biomass materials as raw materials to independently develop the valuation of super absorbent resins, a process valued as high as 150 million yuan.       

A participant introduces the "Global Leader in Super Absorbent Materials" project from Northeast Forestry University. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the competition, the Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing Technology and Business University and other colleges and universities established themselves as Zhongguancun talent makers.