The finals and award ceremony of the Second Youth Green Technology Innovation Competition, organized by Beijing Forestry University under the theme "Nurturing Green Productivity for a Beautiful China," were successfully held in Beijing from September 20 to 21. The event attracted and inspired thousands of young participants from across the country to engage in ecological innovation and contribute to sustainable development.

A total of 1,412 projects from over 240 institutions entered the competition, involving nearly 8,000 young innovators. After rigorous evaluation, 169 outstanding projects received gold, silver, and bronze awards. The submissions spanned more than 30 cutting-edge fields, including liquid-cooled energy storage, waste oil recycling, fully degradable materials, bird hazard prevention, microplastic pollution control, and fruit and vegetable preservation, showcasing the youth’s commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges.

The event attracted over 500 participants including leaders, experts, youth representatives, and media professionals from government agencies, enterprises, and universities. The live broadcast through China Youth Daily and other channels accumulated 21,000 online views and interactions.

In his welcome speech, Wang Hongyuan, Chairman of the BFU Council and Director of the Competition Committee, emphasized the university's commitment to establishing the competition as a cornerstone platform for cultivating talent in green technology. "We are dedicated to building this into a lasting initiative that fosters scientific exploration, integrates industry with education, and accelerates the adoption of green innovations," Wang stated.

At the award ceremony, Beijing Forestry University (BFU) President Li Zhaohu appointed 20 Green Technology Innovation Mentors from leading enterprises and investment firms. These mentors will provide ongoing, hands-on guidance to help translate innovative ideas into real-world applications.

Two projects received the "Green Innovation Fast-Track" award, while 20 were recognized as "Green Innovation Bud" projects—all receiving incubation support to accelerate their development. Six winning teams, including BFU’s mosquito repellent product and projects from Qingdao University and Guangdong Ocean University, delivered live "Green Innovation Showcase" presentations, demonstrating youth-led solutions in rural revitalization, energy conservation, and healthy living.

A parallel sharing session, "Green Answers from the New Youth", featured representatives from climate action groups, desert control teams, and young scholars, who discussed their experiences in advancing ecological progress. The event concluded with a customized AI-generated theme song, Riding the Waves.

An exhibition highlighted award-winning projects across five zones including low-carbon technology, rural development, ecological protection, green living, and health innovation, showcased both exploratory research and practical applications.

Since its launch in 2023, the Youth Green Technology Innovation Competition has become a recognized platform for green tech talent. Guided by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and co-organized by BFU and the Chinese Academy of Forestry, this year’s competition established a full-chain support mechanism—integrating competition, innovation, and incubation—with 214 experts and 125 partner organizations participating.

Written by Li Tianshi, Zhao Pengfei
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang