The Green Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest of Shanghai Chemical Industry Park has set a new record for participation, drawing global entrepreneurs to present cutting-edge innovations in sustainable chemistry.

This year’s competition attracted 618 projects from around the world. The overseas category featured 33 teams representing 18 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Malaysia.

For years, the contest has supported young innovators and entrepreneurs from universities and scientific research institutions, fostering breakthroughs in green technology and sustainable development.

A total of 432 teams registered from universities, including leading Chinese institutions such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, and Tongji University, as well as pioneering overseas universities such as the University of Cambridge, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Imperial College London.

The projects focused on the three main themes: Future Materials, Future Energy, and Future Environment, as well as frontier technologies, showcasing new solutions and practices in areas such as carbon neutrality. Aspiring pioneers brought an array of forward-looking and groundbreaking proposals spanning AI-driven chemical engineering, bio-based materials, biomedical materials, efficient energy storage, and resource recycling.

In the Future Energy sector, hydrogen energy and fuel cells, together with new energy storage technologies, accounted for 40.32 percent and 35.48 percent, respectively.

The Future Materials sector highlighted the growing influence of AI-driven innovation. Projects related to AI-driven catalysts and AI-assisted R&D accounted for the highest proportion, at 16.38 percent. Emerging directions such as high-end membrane materials and new battery materials also featured prominently, indicating that intelligence and functionalization are reshaping the landscape of materials research and development.

Within the Future Environment sector, projects focused on the circular economy and green governance, with waste recycling and reuse accounting for 27.88 percent, and waste gas and water treatment, accounting for 26.44 percent.

Over the next two months, the finalist teams will be selected through preliminary and semi-final reviews, while the championship, second place, and third place winners will be selected during the on-site finals in Shanghai this December.

Competition agenda

Preliminary and semi-final rounds: Oct 9 to Nov 30

The judging committee selects teams to advance to the semi-finals and notifies shortlisted teams via email and WeChat. In November, the organizing committee conducts online semi-finals, selects the finalist teams, notifies them, and publicizes the list of finalists on its official WeChat account and website.

Project refinement for finalist teams: Prior to the finals

To improve their presentations and enhance competitiveness, the organizing committee will invite industry experts to provide pre-competition coaching.

Finals: December

Finalist teams will deliver on-site presentations. They will be evaluated by a judging panel composed of experts from industry, investment, and other relevant sectors.

Acceleration and transformation phase: After the finals

The winning teams will receive a one-week immersive incubation training program, which will offer support in innovative thinking, customer validation, and product and service design. The program aims to help build sustainable, scalable business models and will include impact testing, project roadshows, and investor matchmaking sessions, with guidance from expert mentors tailored to each team’s field.

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Chemical Industry Park at "gh_f4f4f41b342e"