Young innovators competition bridges two countries

Jacob Thoensen, a 21-year-old student of the University of Nevada, Reno, in the United States, made his very first visit to China this summer. Despite the long flight, he was excited, curious and full of wonder.

From the moment he arrived in Beijing, he felt like he had "stepped into a place where every corner tells a story, particularly through food", he says.

Every meal has been a new experience, from savory street food to carefully sliced Peking duck. He has gotten to know the city, where food isn't just about taste but also about connection, bringing people together across languages and cultures.

In addition to touring the city and visiting iconic places, such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Zhongshan Park, he made new friends through the 2025 China-US Young Maker Competition. The final event took place in the capital from Aug 2 to 3.

Along with his three team members, who are also students from the US, Thoensen worked on a project called Fursphere, an AI-powered pet management platform.

By combining their computer vision with psychological modeling, the project assists pet owners in better understanding their furry companions — turning technology into a bridge for deeper human-animal connections.

"We tried to make AI a personal service. We've worked on the project for months. When we came to China to compete in the final, we were very excited to meet the other teams which, despite being from a different culture, share the same questions and dream the same kind of future," he says.

"I had the chance to talk, debate and create alongside some of the brightest, most passionate young innovators I've ever met. It didn't matter where we came from. We were all speaking the same languages — curiosity, creativity and courage."

He adds that the same spirit of blending tradition and innovation was alive in the finals.

Many teams from China reimagined tradition through technology — honoring the past while building something new.

According to Wang Daquan, director-general of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, the co-organizer of the competition, this year's event was held simultaneously in 13 subregions in China and two subregions in the US, attracting over 23,500 participants in more than 4,900 teams. Altogether, 103 teams gathered in Beijing for exchange and competition, with 11 teams from the US.

The competition featured an increasing number of innovative projects in fields like AI, green energy and healthcare, reflecting the youth's attention and concern for today's interconnected issues.

Launched in 2014, the China-US Young Maker Competition has attracted nearly 80,000 participants.

Wang notes that online collaboration between the US and Chinese and students resulted in 14 joint teams. Through teamwork and creative exchanges, the participants not only showcased outstanding technological innovation capabilities but also, by overcoming challenges together, built bridges of friendship across continents.

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.

Hu Chuxiong, a professor and PhD supervisor at the Institute of Mechatronic Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University, served as the chairman of the jury panel for the competition.

"One of the most significant points of the competition is the opportunity for young participants to exhibit their creativity and problem-solving skills," he says.

"The competition allows them to see their creations come to life, which is an exciting and rewarding experience.

"Meanwhile, working with like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds allows them to learn, exchange ideas, and form valuable connections. It's not just about winning — it's about growing as a team and expanding one's network.

"The challenge of solving problems, learning technologies, and overcoming obstacles in a competitive setting pushes young makers to expand their skills and knowledge."