TLDR: China has initiated its first AI Applications Competition in Karamay, Xinjiang, bringing together over 300 participants and 24 finalist projects across nine key sectors to foster innovation and transform the city into a “computational power” hub.
China has officially launched its inaugural AI Applications Competition, marking a significant stride in its national innovation strategy. The finals and exhibition of this pioneering event commenced on September 20, 2025, in Karamay, Xinjiang, at the city’s Museum of Science and Technology.
The competition, aptly titled “Walking with Digitalization, Empowering Development,” was a collaborative effort organized by the Karamay Municipal Party Committee and Administration, alongside various digital innovation and development organizations. It attracted a diverse group of over 300 participants, including leading experts, academics, and industry representatives, all converging to showcase and advance artificial intelligence.
Initially launched in May, the competition garnered an impressive 495 project submissions from 286 organizations. These projects spanned a wide array of critical sectors, including energy, agriculture, healthcare, urban management, industrial energy, and education. Following a rigorous selection process, 24 projects were chosen to compete in the finals. The judging criteria emphasized technological innovation, practical application potential, and leadership in the AI domain, with finalists engaging in presentations, live demonstrations, and discussions.
During the opening ceremony, Shi Gang underscored Karamay’s strategic shift from a traditional resource-based economy to a vibrant innovation hub, with artificial intelligence identified as the core catalyst for this transformation. Wusuer Salamu, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, further elaborated on the profound integration phase that artificial intelligence is currently undergoing, particularly highlighting the evolution of large-scale models from simple tools to sophisticated intelligent agents. This vision aligns perfectly with Karamay’s ambition to establish itself as a “city of computational power.”
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The event also facilitated the signing of six key project agreements across various sectors. These selected innovations are slated for accelerated implementation and transformation within Karamay, reinforcing the city’s commitment to developing new productive forces and enhancing its technological competitiveness. The competition served as a crucial platform for high-level talent, cutting-edge technologies, and innovative projects, solidifying Karamay’s emerging role in Xinjiang’s digital economy and demonstrating AI’s potential to drive high-quality economic growth and regional development.
