The 11th National Expo & Competition of Future Engineers entered its final in Beijing on May 19 at the Beijing Teenage Learn & Practice Park. The competition was co-sponsored by the Office of the Organizing Committee of the National Science Week (NSW), National Institute of Education Sciences, and China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC). It was organized by the Beijing Electrical Engineering School and the Beijing Teenage Learn & Practice Park. Zhao Xinli, head of the Office of the NSW Organizing Committee and CSTEC Deputy Director General, announced the start of the final. Liu Jianfeng, Vice President of National Institute of Education Sciences introduced the event this year. Attendants also included Qiu Chengli, Consultant of the Department of Policies, Regulations and Supervision under the Ministry of Science and Technology, and officials from related departments such as the Beijing Education Commission and Beijing Science and Technology Commission.

The competition consists of incredibly fascinating parts. For instance, a foam-board made catapult hits targets with 100% accuracy; a wooden beam of less than 50g is capable of bearing 400kg; a steel ball simulates a roller coaster in real life; musical instruments made of discarded metal ware. The competition this year encompasses a total of 8 categories: catapult, loaded wooden beam, roller coaster, creative micro snapshot, creative music band, architecture design, Creative Design & Internet of Things, and Future Makers’ Challenge. Following preliminary rounds at provincial and municipal levels, over 2,000 teachers and students of 400 teams from over 20 competition areas participated in the final, breaking previous records.

As a large-scale public gathering for teenage innovation, the event is committed to encouraging creative problems solving by students. In the third week of every May, the event holds its final the during National Science Week. It has won recognition and support from the Party and state leaders with its forward-looking, innovative and public-oriented nature. In particular, Vice Premier Liu Yandong, member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee was present at the final for several consecutive years in talks with participants. At the moment, the event has expanded its reach to over two million teachers and students in more than 20 provinces (municipalities or autonomous regions) including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hebei, Hubei, Guangdong, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan, Guangxi.