Shanxi University's "detective elevator", a safety hazard forecast system for elevators, has won a bronze medal at the finals of the National Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, held in Xi'an on Sept 21-25.

The invention, which was created by five researchers at the university, integrates the most cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence, artificial neural networks and cloud computing, and can greatly diminish the risk of accidents, prolong an elevator's lifespan and enable a high degree of remote supervision and control.

The advanced system chimed perfectly with the competition's theme of "pioneering innovation-driven development", and impressed the panel of 40 judges, which was made up of renowned entrepreneurs, investment professionals, economists and scholars in various fields.

The "detective elevator" was eventually awarded the bronze medal from a field of 185 projects that made it to the finals of the prestigious contest, which is hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology.

The competition received more than 1,600 entries overall, with all five of Shanxi University's submitted inventions qualifying for the finals in Xi'an.

More than 100 partners at leading investment institutions attended the finals in search of the next potential unicorn investment, with many of them initiating discussions with inventors to develop their projects into startup businesses and enter them into incubators and industrial parks.