(Correspondent: Zhu Xianghui)

The national final of the 16th National College Student E-Commerce “Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship” Challenge was held at Zhejiang Pharmaceutical Vocational University from August 8 to 11.

Under the guidance of Yan Huafei, Wuhan Institute of Technology’s “Art in Bloom Through Pyrography” team entered the competition with a cross-border project promoting pyrography-inspired cultural and creative products in overseas markets. Following multiple rounds of competition, including an online preliminary review, an on-site presentation, and questions from experts, the team distinguished itself from more than 300 national finalists and won the Grand Prize, marking a historic breakthrough for the University.

The National College Student E-Commerce “Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship” Challenge is a major innovation and entrepreneurship competition for university students across China. This year’s competition covered 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, as well as Hong Kong and Macao. It attracted more than 280,000 teams and over one million faculty members and students from more than 1,400 universities.

Following successive rounds of selection at the university and provincial levels, only slightly more than 300 teams advanced to the national final. Projects were comprehensively evaluated in terms of innovation and creativity, business models, market value, social value, and team operations, with rigorous requirements concerning originality, commercial viability, and practical implementation.

The “Art in Bloom Through Pyrography” team centered its project on the innovative preservation of pyrography, an element of intangible cultural heritage, and its expansion into international markets. Focusing on the development of lightweight cultural and creative products and market expansion in Southeast Asia, the team explored an operational chain encompassing empowerment through intangible cultural heritage techniques, localized product design, cross-border platform operations, and the cultivation of an overseas customer base.

The project promoted the deep integration of traditional pyrography with product design, digital operations, and cross-border e-commerce. In its preliminary work, the team conducted overseas market research, completed multiple rounds of product prototyping, and carried out trial operations through a cross-border online store. It gradually developed practical plans covering product development, store operations, data analysis, and supply chain coordination.

On August 10, the competition entered the on-site presentation and defense stage. The team systematically presented the market needs addressed by the project, its product innovations, target markets, operating model, and commercialization pathway.

In response to professional questions from the judges concerning product differentiation, adaptation to overseas cultures, cross-border cost control, and the sustainable development of intangible cultural heritage intellectual property, team members worked collaboratively and responded with composure. Their clear business logic, robust data support, and strong capacity for project implementation earned the recognition of the judging panel.

Comprising students from several academic disciplines, the team fully leveraged the strengths of interdisciplinary collaboration. Jiang Panpan, an Accounting major, was responsible for financial projections, cost control, and the development of the profit model. Zhao Fangxuehen, majoring in Big Data Management and Application, oversaw cross-border data operations, user profile analysis, and data support for product selection.

Deng Zhenyi, an Intelligent Science major, was responsible for AI-assisted pattern design and the development of digital operational tools. Xue Hanwu, an Economics major, conducted overseas market research, evaluated the business model, and formulated pricing strategies. Du Aini, an Electrical Engineering major, focused on optimizing pyrography equipment and developing a quality-control system for the supply chain.

The complementary strengths of the different disciplines provided substantial support for the project across technological innovation, product development, market operations, and commercial transformation.

The award represents the outcome of the team’s sustained practical exploration and collaborative efforts. It also reflects the School’s continued advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship education and its commitment to interdisciplinary talent cultivation.

Going forward, the School will continue to improve its progressive competition development system encompassing university-, provincial-, and national-level contests. It will encourage more students to transform disciplinary knowledge into genuine innovative practice, apply youthful insight to the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s fine traditional culture, and demonstrate the responsibility and commitment of university students in the new era through innovation and entrepreneurship.

(Reviewed by Zuo Hui)