Shanxi University students won top prize at the 15th National Challenge Cup, a national competition for extra-curricular scientific and technological inventions, becoming the only university in Shanxi province to receive the honor at the competition held in Shanghai, from Nov 14 to 19.

The National Challenge Cup is considered one of the most important national competitions that pool together the top young innovative minds from across the country. The biennial event was first hosted by Tsinghua University in 1989, with the support of the Ministry of Education, China Communist Youth League, China Association for Science and Technology, and the All-China Students Federation.

Students in the economy and management department at the university were recognized for their work titled “Increase income or reduce expenditure — a research report on the income and consumption of local residents in poor areas of Shanxi province”.

A total of 755 inventions out of 600,000 made it to the final following several examinations. There were 39 that were awarded top prize.

It was the third time that Shanxi University students had won top prize at the Challenge Cup since 2005. All the other five inventions from Shanxi University were also recognized by the Challenge Cup by winning prizes at the competition.

Nine inventions from Shanxi province stood out in the final, five of which were from Shanxi University.

Shanxi University students win top prize at the 15th National Challenge Cup held in Shanghai, from Nov 14 to Nov 19. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

Shanxi University students who won prizes at the competition pose for a photograph. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

Attendees from Shanxi University pose for a photograph with their instructors at the competition. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]