Young innovators competition bridges two countries

Yu Zeng, a 19-year-old student from Hangzhou Wanxiang Polytechnic in the provincial capital of Zhejiang, worked on one of these joint teams.

"Our team made continuous progress from the initial idea to each subsequent step, constantly improving and correcting mistakes," says Yu.

"We overcame time zone differences and communication barriers, working together to solve multiple challenges and ensuring the product development met the expectations of both sides."

The efforts paid off — their project was awarded first prize in the competition. The team designed a product that generates electricity through the water-activated chemical magnesium-aluminum alloy, which eliminates the need for traditional batteries.

The product lights up in 10 seconds and provides continuous illumination for a week with a single water refill, embodying an eco-friendly concept of technology coexisting harmoniously with nature.

"The competition not only embodies the friendship between the two countries' inventors, but also paves the way in fostering collaboration among youth from both nations in areas such as technological innovation and cultural exchange," says Yu.