Shanghai finals of 2026 China–US Young Maker Competition conclude

The Shanghai finals of the 2026 China–US Young Maker Competition have come to a close in Changning district, drawing a record participation this year.

A total of 205 teams from 57 universities, involving 917 students, registered for the competition. After multiple rounds of selection, 60 projects advanced to the offline finals.

During the final round, teams presented their projects through pitches, live demonstrations, and Q&A sessions. Their AI-powered innovations focused on resilient communities, health and well-being, and environmental sustainability.

The top prize went to the QiYue team for its intelligent bionic prosthetic integrating hip and knee joints. Designed for people with hip disarticulation amputations, the prosthetic combines a hybrid drive system with machine vision to adapt to different road conditions and walking speeds.

Other standout projects included Yuanyi, which developed smart clothing for humanoid robots using advanced fabrics and flexible sensors, and Cloud Bridge Creation, which created a 3D digital platform that transforms temporary exhibition spaces into permanent virtual assets.

Organizers said the competition, which launched in 2014, has attracted more than 80,000 young participants from China and the United States and generated over 20,000 innovative projects. This year's theme, "Co-Making the Future", encourages young makers to tackle global challenges such as resilient communities, low-carbon development, health, clean energy, and climate change.

The winning teams from the Shanghai regional finals will advance to the national finals in Shanghai.

[GIF/WeChat ID: shchangning]

[GIF/WeChat ID: shchangning]