The DIIS Build 3.0 Future Living Hardware 48-Hour Challenge, also serving as the final of the Hongkou selection competition of the 6th "Shanghai Talent+" Global Talents Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, was held at the Design Innovation Institute Shanghai from Feb 27 to March 1.

The event attracted over 110 teams and more than 600 participants, with 21 teams, comprising 110 young innovators, advancing to the finals.

This year's competition featured a new three-day format, combining experience sharing, mentorship collaboration, and roadshow evaluations. In the three to six months following the event, teams choosing to pursue entrepreneurship may receive ongoing innovation support, including supply chain connections and product realization.

At the opening ceremony, experts in AI hardware entrepreneurship, industrial design and product innovation, as well as cloud computing and developer ecosystems, shared insights into the latest trends in hardware innovation landscape and offered practical guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs.

On the second day, team members built prototypes and completed on-site work, receiving feedback and suggestions from judges. The third day featured final roadshows and product demonstrations.

During the finals, the 21 advancing teams showcased their innovative projects, covering categories such as wearables, edge-side AI hardware, desktop-level robotic arms with open claw, Brain-Computer Interface integrated with gaming, hair-cutting robots, smart enhanced e-ink screens, and in-car olfactory devices.

The projects explored key future lifestyle scenarios, including smart offices, health management, home interaction, and personal robotics, integrating AI technology with hardware products while balancing practicality and innovation.

The finals brought together experts in technology, product design, supply chain, investment, and academia to provide professional evaluations and guidance. The event also drew top-tier investors, including future industry funds and leading corporations, facilitating resource matchmaking between high-quality projects and industries.

Five teams received the "Most Incubation Value Award", while one team was honored the "Most Overall Potential Award", with many other projects demonstrating strong innovation capabilities and promising market potential.

Sources: Official WeChat account of the Shanghai International Talent Center (ID: "sh-italent"), Shanghai Hongkou district