2026 Belt & Road and BRICS Competition of Skills Development and Technology Innovation: Brazil International Competition Concludes Successfully

Group photo at the closing ceremony

The Brazil International Competition of the 2026 Belt & Road and BRICS Competition of Skills Development and Technology Innovation (hereinafter referred to as the “Brazil International Competition”) concluded successfully on September 18 in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

Held from September 15 to 18, the competition and its associated activities brought together 51 participating projects from 13 countries, including China, Brazil, India, Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Jordan, Paraguay, and Sri Lanka. Participants showcased their projects, exchanged ideas, and competed in areas related to technological innovation, industrial development, and future applications.

The Brazil International Competition adopted an integrated format combining competition and exhibition, alongside the Iguassu Valley Innovation Showcase. Nearly 1,000 people took part in on-site exhibitions and exchanges, further facilitating connections between innovative projects, technological achievements, and industry needs. The event provided participating teams with a platform to showcase their achievements, exchange technical expertise, and explore potential partnerships. It also created new opportunities for cooperation among BRICS and Belt and Road countries in technological innovation, talent development, and industrial collaboration.

Competition in progress

During the competition, expert judges gave positive assessments of the participating projects, highlighting their diversity, distinctive innovative features, and strong focus on addressing real-world needs through technological innovation.

The projects tackled practical challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital health, ecological conservation, green energy, and the circular economy, presenting a range of solutions with practical application potential and positive social impact. Several projects stood out for their integration of artificial intelligence with software, hardware, and sensor technologies, as well as their prototype demonstrations and practical applications, demonstrating promising technological potential.

The experts also recommended that participating teams further strengthen their core innovations and competitive advantages, and enhance the reliability and credibility of their results through real-world testing, user validation, and data analysis. They further emphasized the importance of developing comprehensive plans for intellectual property protection, industry-academia-research collaboration, business models, large-scale deployment, and international promotion to help translate innovative achievements from project demonstrations into practical applications and sustainable development.

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony was attended by Diana Araújo Pereira, President of the Federal University for Latin American Integration (UNILA); Marcelo Vivacqua, Director of the Latin American Office of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations; Fábio Corbari, Director of Extension and Development and Coordinator of Research and Outreach at the Iguaçu Institute; Newton Paulo de Abreu Angeli, Founder of the Institute for Tourism Development and Strategic Projects (IDESTUR); and Su Limin, Project Manager at the BRICS Academy of Skills Development and Technology Innovation (Xiamen).

During the ceremony, the Xiamen BRICS Academy of Skills Development and Technology Innovation signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four Brazilian institutions: the Iguaçu Institute, the Federal University for Latin American Integration, the State University of Western Paraná, and the Institute for Tourism Development and Strategic Projects (IDESTUR). The agreements establish a framework for cooperation in areas including the joint development and mutual recognition of standards, technical and vocational skills training, human resources platform development, and applied technology research and development. These partnerships will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Brazilian institutions in skills development and technological innovation.

Two projects from Zhejiang Guangsha Vocational and Technical University of Construction in China received awards at the competition. Lingyun: An AIGC-Powered Platform for the Intelligent Creation of Cultural and Creative Products Based on Intangible Cultural Heritage won Second Prize, while Painting the Dragon's Shadow: AIGC-Enabled Digital Visual Storytelling for Pujiang Bench Dragon Intangible Cultural Heritage received Third Prize.

The competition provided young talents and innovation teams from participating countries with an international platform to showcase their achievements, exchange ideas, and connect with potential partners. It also fostered greater communication and cooperation among countries in technological innovation and industrial development.

Looking ahead, the competition will continue to serve as a platform for international exchange and cooperation. By further improving its competition mechanisms and support services, it aims to engage more young talents, innovation teams, and industry partners from BRICS and Belt and Road countries, promote the exchange and application of technological innovations, and contribute to innovation-driven development and practical cooperation among participating countries.

Iguassu Valley Innovation Showcase

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