On December 8th, the 5th Start-Up Challenge at Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), organized by GTIIT Youth Committee, co-organized by GTIIT Association of Commercial Entrepreneur (ACE) and guided by Sunyard Youth Innovation Hub, successfully concluded.

Sixty-four contestants from GTIIT, Shantou University (STU), Shenzhen University (SZU), and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, formed sixteen teams. Over three intense days of competition, they engaged in deep exchanges and brought fresh thinking. From oral wearable detectors, home aeroponic systems, to gut bacteria-based drugs for depression, various unique projects focused on cutting-edge technological fields were presented, fostering an environment where possibilities of innovation and entrepreneurship thrived.

During the event, several informative lectures were held. In the innovation thinking lecture, Wang Kankan, advisor to ACE, guided the participants from identifying problems to proposing solutions by thinking differently, fueling students' innovative potential and navigating various business ideas. In the lecture "How to Write a Business Plan", Zheng Qijia, a project mentor at the Entrepreneurship College of Jinan University, provided witty insights to help contestants highlight the strengths of their plans. Associate Professors Xu Peng and Wang Yan from GTIIT Chemical Engineering Program delivered lectures titled "The Future of Synthetic Biology Manufacturing" and "Applications of Electronic Skin in Health Monitoring", showcasing the commercial potential of their research projects. Zheng Yanzong from Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Center of Shenzhen University, encouraged students to align with national policies and market trends in the current entrepreneurial environment, seizing the opportunities of the times in his lecture "Opportunities and Challenges Brought by Technological Innovation". In the student CEO panel, four entrepreneurial peers Huang Jiawei (City University of Hong Kong), Shan Guodong (Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications), Wang Ruobing (Sun Yat-sen University), and Zeng Xiangle (South China University of Technology) shared their personal experiences in balancing academics and entrepreneurship, and interpreted the gap between scientific research and market needs, deeply planting the seeds of entrepreneurship in the students.

From tracing the background of project inception and user positioning, to refining business models, laying out future plans, and estimating finances, eight senior mentors from Sunyard Youth Innovation Hub shared their insights and experience, helping students upgrade their business plans and build a solid foundation for the roadshow competition.

"At Technion, we believe in the power of innovation and creativity. Every year, many start-ups are born from the bright minds of our students and alumni," said Yigal Cohen, Pro-Vice Chancellor & Director General of GTIIT, in his opening remarks at the final. He encouraged students to unleash their creativity and contribute to a brighter future.

GTIIT awarded the "Internship Base" plaque to Sunyard Youth Innovation Hub

After intense preliminary rounds, eight teams advanced to the final. On the roadshow stage, each team fluently explained their project concepts in English within the allotted time, adding videos to vividly present their works.

With the aging population, physical and mental health issues of the elderly have become more prominent. Some contestants shared ideas of developing anti-shake gloves using microelectronic technology, customizing unique travel projects, and building pet companionship platforms to combat depression, all aimed at helping the elderly live more comfortably. Besides, ideas such as microbial drugs for depression, personalized apps that save time when seeking medical care, lightweight oral detectors, and nest-style pneumatic medical mattresses were displayed and are expected to bring tangible benefits to human health. Other creative thinking, such as transgenic planting technology and space planting systems, resonated well with humanity's dream of space migration. The contestants responded to real-world concerns with their expertise, demonstrating the social responsibility and commitment of the youth in a range of entrepreneurial concepts.

List of the winning projects and contestants

First Prize & Best Video Award: Anti-shake glove

Wei Sijie (GTIIT)

Zeng Peizhi (STU)

Zhong Zhuolin (STU)

Liu Shijun (GTIIT)

Second Prize: SmileBot - A dental health monitor device

Zeng Xianle (GTIIT)

Yuan Hongwei (GTIIT)

Lai Zixi (STU)

Gu Meilin (STU)

Third Prize: Heal Me - Personal Medical Record Database App

Ye Congming (GTIIT)

Zhou Ziyan (GTIIT)

Wang Wanwen (STU)

Best Collaboration Award: Sleep Guard

Yin Zhixiang (GTIIT)

Chen Ze (GTIIT)

Zhang Shubo (SZU)

Yang Junjia (STU)

Most Creative Award: Gut Microbiota Based Drugs for Depression

Wu Binghan (GTIIT)

Tan Zhenyuan (GTIIT)

Chen Xiaoyi (GTIIT)

Wang Guanyu (SZU)

Best PPT Award: Space Farming system

Li Zhiyuan (GTIIT)

Zhang Leyi (GTIIT)

Huang Jiajun (GTIIT)

Zeng Peixuan (STU)

Text: ACE, GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: Liu Huayi, Liu Zelin, Huang Keyu