Zhejiang University secures top spot at 14th “Challenge Cup”

In a stunning display of innovation and entrepreneurship, Zhejiang University has once again claimed the top spot at the prestigious “Challenge Cup” competition. The 14th National College Students’ Entrepreneurship Competition, held on November 2 at Xi’an Jiaotong University, saw ZJU’s students shine across multiple categories.

The University’s impressive haul included five gold awards in the Main Competition category, two in the QinChuangYuan Innovation Challenge, and one in the Belt and Road International Invitational. This outstanding performance secured ZJU the highest overall score nationwide, marking its third “Cup of Excellence” victory following wins in 2018 and 2020.

Here’s a closer look at the impressive winning projects.

FlyDrug — Global Leader in AI-Driven Drug Discovery

College(s): College of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Category: Main Competition — Technological Innovation and Future Industries

Members: LIU Yifei, WANG Gao’ang, WANG Feifan, LI Zhiyu, AI Jialun, ZHENG Zihan, YANG Ziyi, WANG Xiaoying, ZHANG Xujun, YE Qing, WANG Xiaorui, QU Wanglin, WANG Yilin, YU Yuntao

Advisors: HOU Tingjun, KANG Yu, PAN Peichen, WU Weidong, CHEN Haiyi

Project:  Leveraging the interdisciplinary research of artificial intelligence and pharmacy, FlyDrug integrates drug discovery processes — from target identification, drug screening, to molecular generation, and property prediction — on an intelligent cloud platform. FlyDrug’s AI-driven “cloud architecture” is designed to streamline new drug discovery and outperforms traditional methods in key technical metrics.

Soilless Pioneer — “SAS” Integrated Facility Horticulture System for Gobi Desert Agriculture

Colleges: College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, College of Computer Science and Technology

Category: Main Competition — Rural Revitalization and Agricultural Modernization

Members: ZHENG Zhiyao, ZHU Chang’an, ZHOU Yukan, CHEN Yifan, SHI Yisen, YANG Fengjun, WAN Boyan, CHEN Mingwei, XING Qufan, ZHU Luyu, HUANG Jing, JIN Qihang, PAN Jun, HU Xinyin, CAI Xiyan 

Advisors: ZHOU Jie, HUANG Qi, SHI Kai, LIU Yaowei, ZHANG Yiying

Project: Addressing three key challenges unique to desert agriculture (limited resources, low fermentation efficiency, the unstable fermentation environment), the Soilless Pioneer team developed the “SAS” integrated facility horticulture system. By sourcing local agricultural waste as substrate material, conducting high-throughput isolation and screening of fermentation strains and utilizing AI algorithms for fermentation, the team achieved three key technological breakthroughs for advancing agriculture in arid regions.

Xingshi Technology — Consumer-grade Smart Telescope

College:  College of Control Science and Engineering

Category: Main Competition — Cultural Creativity and Regional Cooperation

Members: XIE Zhixin, YE Zi, WU Keyou, ZHANG Shuhan, WANG Jiabin, ZHANG Yue

Advisors: REN Shuai, LIN Tianyi

Project: Xingshi Technology introduced the VIZTA smart telescope, a lightweight, affordable device that makes astronomy accessible to a broader audience. This telescope provides high-end performance at a fraction of the cost, allowing users to capture stars with ease and share their discoveries instantly.

AR-Track — AR Heads-Up Display for Cyclists

Colleges: College of Information Science & Electronic Engineering, School of Management

Category: Main Competition — Social Governance and Public Services

Members: YE Bowen, ZHOU Tingyi, ZHU Kexin, LIU Beibei, LI Yueyue, LI Yiming, NONG Yujun, ZHU Xingyue, DENG Xinzhuo, ZHANG Hongjian, SHAN Yifei, PAN Zhenghua, WU Chenliang

Advisors: YANG Zongyin, LI Xiangdong, XING Yiqun, ZHOU Xiaoxin

Project: Designed for delivery riders, AR-Track displays navigation, weather, and fatigue warnings on an augmented reality (AR) heads-up display. This hands-free device improves safety, allowing riders to stay focused on the road without checking their phones.

Jianying Technology — China’s “Eye” for Early Cancer Detection

Colleges: Polytechnic Institute, School of Medicine, College of Chemical & Biological Engineering

Category:  Main Competition — Social Governance and Public Services

Members: YAN Siwei, HU Qiuhui, CHEN Leyi, CHEN Zipei, LIANG Dehui, QIAN Lujie, LIU Xinyu, XU Hong, ZHAO Chen, TAN Yue, JIA Yinhang, LI Weiqi, HUANG Zihao, MA Siying

Advisors: ZHOU Zhuxian, GU Fu, BO Zheng, HU Hongjie, REN Shuai

Project: Jianying Technology developed Nano-TCA, a revolutionary imaging agent for early cancer detection that targets specific cancer cells with five times the imaging power of conventional agents. This innovation promises earlier, more accurate cancer diagnoses.

Smart Shield Navigation — An Intelligent Shield Tunneling System

Colleges: School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Management

Category: QinChuangYuan — Intelligent Manufacturing

Members: XIE Mingrui, TAN Xianzhong, ZHENG Zhe, LIN Fuxin, DI Ziming, MA Hanyue, SUN Dongliang, LUO Kaidi, ZHANG Yangqianhui, SI Qianxin, ZHANG Ziyue

Advisors: HAN Dong, YANG Huayong, LIU Bingrui, WU Xiaobo

Project: Building on Zhejiang University’s laboratory expertise, the Smart Shield Navigation team created a tunneling system that combines big data and AI for predictive awareness, smart decision-making and online learning. This system enhances China’s tunneling capabilities, especially in complex and extreme environments.

Scent Master — A Digital Scent Playback and Control System

College: School of Mechanical Engineering

Category: QinChuangYuan — Cultural Tourism 

Members: ZHANG Wenyan, LU Fang, DING Annan, QIAO Guangda, DING Yinuo, ZHU Jingjia, ZHOU Yuzhe, SUN Qianya, LIU Ruijie, JIANG Yuning, YANG Cangeng, ZHUO Yitian

Advisors: HAN Dong, YANG Huayong, LIU Bingrui

Project: This digital system uses microfluidic technology to deliver customizable scents for various environments, from film and smart homes to tourism and healthcare. This pioneering approach opens new possibilities in the digital scent industry.

Zhenzhizhuojian — The “Scavenger” of the Digital Environment

College: College of Computer Science and Technology

Category: Belt and Road — Digital Technology

Members: ZHAO Wenshuo, ZHU Yanyi, LI Shuhe, CHEN Xingzhu, CAI Fangshu, WU Yihong, Bezea Tudor Alexandra, CAO Anqi, SHUANG Chaohuan, Christian Jingxuan Zhou, Abdul Mokhammad Ismal, Darren Haris Effendi

Advisors: WU Yingcai, REN Shuai, ZHANG Yiying, DENG Dazhen

Project: This full-chain AI solution screens online information to help businesses along the Belt and Road initiative countries manage digital content effectively. It uses data cleansing, sentiment analysis, and topic tracing to provide a comprehensive tool for online reputation management.

As Zhejiang University celebrates this remarkable achievement, it reaffirms its position as a powerhouse of student innovation in China. The diverse range of winning projects reflects the University’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and its focus on solving pressing global issues through technology and entrepreneurship. 

Translated from the article by WU Chenliang, YANG Kun 

Translator: FANG Fumin

Editor: TIAN Minjie