Students, coaches and corporate sponsors pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of 2018 SUGAR Global Kick-Off in Hefei, Anhui province, Oct 24. [Photo/hf-talent.com]

Member of the Stanford University Global Alliance for Re-Design (SUGAR), University of Science and Technology of China hosted the 2018 SUGAR Global Kick-Off (SUGAR GKO) from Oct 24 to 30. 

An annual celebration of student team creativity and productivity, this year's edition marks the first time the event was being held at an international partner campus. It attracted over 250 students and teachers from Germany, France, the United States and Japan, as well as corporate sponsors from home and abroad. 

Throughout the seven days, students had opportunities to experience design thinking tools, keynote speeches, hands-on exercises, company visits and a lot more. 

Professors and business representatives shared their insights on design innovation and enjoyed moments especially designed for them, like the innovation circle, or the liaison survival guide. 

A perfect event to share expectations, socialize and get hands-on with the projects, the event presented an exciting and enticing environment which turned the week into a time of synergy and allowed teams to gain momentum for the rest of the year. 

The event won solid support from the Hefei government and iFlytek, a local-based voice recognition company that is the largest in its field in China.