The finals and award ceremony of the Fudan Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 2024 took place on April 18 at Fudan University's Handan Campus, marking a new milestone in advancing youth-driven innovation through school-local collaboration.
The event drew top leadership from Fudan University, including President Jin Li, Executive Vice President Xu Zheng, and former Vice President and Chinese Academy of Sciences Academician Zhang Renhe.
Hongkou District Party Secretary Li Qian and Deputy District Director Chen Shuai also attended, along with senior executives from Jinjiang International Group.
This year’s competition, jointly guided by Fudan University, the Hongkou District Government, and Jinjiang International Group, carried the mission of "aligning with national strategies, promoting school-local integration, and empowering youth innovation."
Since its launch, the contest attracted widespread participation, with 456 project submissions from universities and research institutions across the country.
After rounds of rigorous preliminary and semifinal evaluations, 20 teams advanced to the finals, competing across two tracks: creative projects and entrepreneurial ventures.
Finalists demonstrated strong project execution, offering innovative solutions to real-world challenges and showcasing the analytical, action-oriented, and expressive capabilities of the new generation.
In his remarks, Fudan University President Jin Li emphasized the university’s ongoing commitment to educational reform and its integration into China's modernization efforts.
As Fudan celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, the competition underscores the university’s dedication to channeling its academic excellence and values into national innovation ecosystems.
Hongkou District, meanwhile, is seizing the emerging trend of "tech returning to urban cores" — from Silicon Valley to urban 'Silicon Alleys' — by focusing on fields such as digital economy, green development, integrated circuit design, biotechnology, and spatial information technologies.
By promoting tech commercialization, supporting the growth of technology services, and attracting innovation-driven headquarters, Hongkou aims to strengthen its reputation as a hub for science and technology innovation.
District leaders expressed that Hongkou will leverage this competition to deepen collaboration with Fudan University, expand public-private partnerships, and build an innovation ecosystem that nurtures talent and startups.
The district is committed to creating a first-class business environment where innovative enterprises and individuals can thrive, injecting fresh momentum into technological progress and social development.
Hongkou plans to turn "event-based collaboration" into "frequent and sustained interaction," forging a long-term model for school-local synergy that drives innovation and growth.