Chongqing - The fourth Zhibo Cup China (Chongqing) Industrial Design Competition, also known as the Smart China Cup (Chongqing) Industrial Design Competition, is currently underway, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology on November 28.

As of the end of October, nearly 1,000 entries had been submitted from 24 provinces, cities, and regions. The participants include over 20 teams and individuals, more than 50 universities, and more than 40 companies.

The previous competition winner of the Changan Automobile's "UNI-K Series" cars. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology)

The competition entries focus on areas such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system, regional economic development, rural revitalization, and the integration of industry, urban, and rural areas. The works are categorized into four types: products, concepts, services, and theories.

As the only provincial and ministerial industrial design competition in Chongqing, the competition highlights the city's achievements in industrial design development and provides a comprehensive platform for industrial design exchange, promotion, and incubation.

This year, the competition emphasizes the impact of industrial design on everyday life and has introduced four special events, including a youth creative design contest and a showcase of innovative projects related to sustainable development. 

The previous competition winner project was the 5MW offshore wind turbines. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology)

At the same time, the competition organizers have launched special promotional campaigns both domestically and internationally to expand collaboration opportunities between Chongqing's industrial design sector and its global counterparts. Notably, Chongqing's industrial design was featured during Singapore Design Week, further raising the city's profile.

Chongqing's focus on industrial design aligns with its designation as a Creative City of Design by UNESCO in 2023. As part of its efforts to promote innovative and integrated development within advanced manufacturing, the city has introduced the country's first local regulation dedicated to industrial design—the Chongqing industrial design promotion regulations.

By December 2023, Chongqing had more than 1,500 companies related to industrial design, employing nearly 20,000 people. Industrial design expenditure by large enterprises in the city now accounts for around 60% of their total R&D investment. Furthermore, industrial design has contributed to these enterprises' sales of new products, which have surpassed 650 billion yuan (about 89.63 billion USD).