'Straight to Wuzhen' competition brings innovations to reality

2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit is attracting ever more technological talent and resources, and this open and inclusive platform is where a growing number of innovations become reality.

As a global platform for digital innovation and cooperation, the finals of the "Straight to Wuzhen" Global Internet Competition are currently underway, with the award ceremony scheduled for Nov 5 in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province.

The competition, which joined the summit's official program in 2019, is a signature event. This year's competition features five main tracks, namely digital and intelligent healthcare, smart mobility, intelligent terminals, smart manufacturing, and new consumption.

Technological innovation, practical value, and the growth potential of the competing teams are three core evaluation benchmarks of the competition projects, Zhu Yanmin, tenured professor of the School of Computers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, noted.

"Whether the projects can demonstrate their competitiveness and create social value is the essence of evaluating their innovation potential," Zhu, who is also one of the judges for this year's competition, added.

The competition's value lies not only in selecting promising projects, but also in connecting ideas with the resources and opportunities needed to bring them to life.