On June 19, the 10th-anniversary celebration of the "Chunhui Cup" China Overseas Study Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, along with the official launch of the 2015 China-U.S. Young Makers Competition, took place in Pittsburgh, USA. Representatives from academic and business circles in both China and the United States unanimously agreed that young entrepreneurs and makers in China and the U.S. are living in an exciting era—and are emerging as a major new highlight in people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich stated: "China has already become one of the world's leading innovation hubs, and we’re thrilled to contribute to the growing maker movement and cultural dialogue between young people in China and the U.S. Through our company’s cutting-edge technology, global perspective, and international resources, we aim to support innovation and help bridge the gap, fostering collaboration and exchange opportunities for young innovators across both countries."

　　As a key supporting event of the high-level U.S.-China People-to-People Exchange Dialogue, this year’s China-U.S. Young Makers Competition is themed "Co-Creating the Future." It focuses on sustainable development areas such as communities, education, health, transportation, as well as environmental protection and energy. By combining innovative design concepts with cutting-edge technology, the competition aims to develop entirely new products or applications that deliver both industrial and societal value. According to the competition schedule, the winning teams from each regional division in the U.S. and China will compete in the final round in China in mid-August this year.

　　Over the past 10 years, the "Chunhui Cup" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition has selected a total of 1,654 overseas-studied talent projects focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. Among these, more than 300 projects have already been successfully launched and nurtured domestically, spanning diverse fields such as electronic information, biomedicine, new materials, and new energy. Notably, in the previous nine editions of the competition, projects led by overseas students from the United States accounted for 41.5% of all finalists—this year also marked the first time a North America regional competition was added.

　　Pittsburgh was once a renowned industrial city in the United States, famously known as the "Steel Capital." However, while industrial growth brought prosperity, it also left the city blanketed in thick smoke and pollution. As the steel industry declined, Pittsburgh's development once lost its luster. Today, though, thanks to thriving sectors like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, this city—once part of America's "Rust Belt"—has successfully reinvented itself into a nationally recognized hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, achieving both economic vitality and environmental sustainability. It’s particularly meaningful that this year’s launch ceremony for the China-U.S. Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project took place right here in Pittsburgh.

　　Lei Bao, an MBA student at Bridgeport University in the U.S., is a winner of the 9th "Chunhui Cup" competition. Her award-winning project will soon be implemented in Nanjing. By participating in the "Chunhui Cup" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, Lei Bao has gained a deep appreciation for China’s current golden age of entrepreneurship, especially given the country’s robust policy support for mass entrepreneurship and innovation. She notes that collaboration between China and the U.S. is evolving—from traditional economic ties toward cutting-edge innovation and creativity—highlighting numerous opportunities for mutual learning and inspiration. China can draw valuable lessons from the U.S. on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset across society, while Americans, in turn, could benefit from gaining firsthand insight into China’s remarkable capacity for innovation and startup success. Take the mobile internet sector as an example: While Chinese entrepreneurs often feel particularly confident in this space, even the U.S. may need to look to China for guidance—ultimately paving the way for more balanced competition and open dialogue between the two nations.

　　Nathan Smilayak, a biomedical engineer from the University of Pittsburgh and a representative of young American innovators, told our newspaper’s reporter that while the U.S. and China differ in their historical cultures, development stages, and other factors, these very differences also create opportunities for mutual complementarity and collaboration. The convergence of ideas between young people from both countries in innovation and entrepreneurship will not only deepen mutual understanding but also help cultivate a new generation of globally-minded, forward-thinking talent equipped with cutting-edge innovation skills. Nathan expressed strong confidence that this collaborative momentum will undoubtedly have a positive and profound impact on the next generation in both nations. Moreover, by joining forces—particularly in cutting-edge fields like new energy—China and the U.S. can jointly develop innovative solutions to the shared challenges facing the global community.