The 2025 China Youth Sci-Tech Innovation "Leaderboard Challenge" Competition (Robotics Track) was held at Dongguan University of Technology from October 10 to 12, 2025. The project "Design and Intelligent Control of a Serial-Parallel Hybrid Long-Arm Mobile Welding Robot System," led by Professor Ding Shixing from the College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (ZZULI), won the National First Prize in the young sci-tech talent track under the challenge topic "DG-04: Design of a High-Precision Multi-Process Collaborative Mobile Welding Robot System." Another project, "Development of a Wearable Robotic Arm-Assisted Human-Robot Collaboration System for Disabled Individuals Based on Digital Twin," led by Professor Ji Shuo, secured the National Second Prize in the young sci-tech talent track under the challenge topic "DG-01: Development of a Wearable Robotic Arm-Assisted Human-Robot Collaboration System for Disabled Individuals." It is the first time that ZZULI has made a breakthrough in the Special "Leaderboard Challenge" Competition of the "Challenge Cup" Competition.

Launched in 2021 by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, the Special "Leaderboard Challenge" Competition was established under the "Challenge Cup" Competition to encourage enterprises and research institutions to issue challenge topics and invite young talents to take them up. In 2025, the event was upgraded and renamed the China Youth Sci-Tech Innovation "Leaderboard Challenge" Competition, spotlighting emerging fields such as next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, new energy, new materials, high-end equipment, robotics, biomedicine, and seed industry technology. A total of 122 challenge topics were released, and main arenas were established in eight cities (districts) with well-developed industrial chains and strong industrial clusters in these fields. In Robotics, the competition focused on key areas including intelligent perception, autonomous control, and human-robot collaboration. It brought together 151 teams from 67 universities—among them Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology—as well as several leading enterprises such as Beijing Tongxu Information Technology Co., Ltd. A total of 95 teams advanced to the final round.

Moving forward, we will continue to emphasize the role of technological innovation competitions in talent development. We remain committed to using competitions as a driving force to deepen reforms in innovation and entrepreneurship education, focusing on cultivating high-level innovative young talents. With enthusiasm and confidence, we seek to build broader platforms for students and faculty to showcase their potential, inspiring more young innovators to engage in hands-on competitions. Through real-world challenges, they will continue to refine their capabilities and perseverance, preparing themselves to contribute to Chinese path to modernization and the great cause of national rejuvenation.