On June 7, the 2025 RAICOM Robotics Developer Contest (CAIM Maker Track) Shanghai Regional Qualifier was successfully held at the Songjiang Campus of Shanghai University of Engineering Science. Hosted by the Shanghai Higher Education Society and co-organized by Shanghai University of Engineering Science and Beijing Souhuo Technology Co., Ltd., the event attracted 120 teams and over 500 teachers and students from universities across Shanghai.
Distinguished guests at the opening ceremony included Li Shuangshou, Deputy Director of the RAICOM Expert Committee and Deputy Director of the Engineering Training Teaching Steering Committee under the Ministry of Education; Gong Bin, Deputy Secretary-General of the RAICOM Organizing Committee; Zhou Jilie, Secretary-General of the Virtual Teaching and Research Office for Engineering Maker Education under the Ministry of Education; and Lin Jiansheng, Director of the External Liaison Department and Head of the Science and Technology Education Committee of the Shanghai Higher Education Society. The event also brought together members of the Ministry of Education’s Engineering Training Steering Committee, representatives from universities across China, and leaders from academic affairs and engineering training centers.
Chen Hao, Director of the Engineering Training Center, hosted the opening ceremony.
Professor Rao Pinhua, Dean of Academic Affairs, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the host university. He noted that this was the second consecutive year that the university had hosted this event. Against the backdrop of the national innovation-driven development strategy and Shanghai’s goal of building a global science and innovation center, the university is committed to the philosophy of "promoting teaching, learning, reform, and development through competition," providing strong support for the event. He encouraged participants to maintain respect for technology and passion for innovation, and to embody the theme of "robots serving humanity" in their projects.
Professor Li Shuangshou spoke on behalf of the RAICOM Expert Committee. He highlighted that, unlike academic competitions organized by the Ministry of Education, RAICOM—hosted by the Talent Exchange Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology—places greater emphasis on industry-education integration. The competition’s design, implementation, and presentation stages all reflect a strong orientation toward practical application. He expressed hope that participants would bring their enthusiasm and creativity to the contest and let innovation shine in Shanghai.
Lin Jiansheng officially declared the competition open.
The contest featured six tracks, including Creative Design & 3D Printing, Machine Vision Innovation, ROS-based Robotics Simulation, Collaborative Robotic Arm Challenges, and Smart Manufacturing Digital Twin Design. After a full day of intense competition, all events were successfully completed. Participants demonstrated solid professional knowledge, excellent teamwork, and outstanding innovation. Their robot projects combined creative ideas with practical applications, fully showcasing the innovative spirit and practical abilities of today’s university students.
Now in its fourth edition, the RAICOM Maker Track embodies the core concept of "engineering makers"—integrating interdisciplinary knowledge, technological innovation, and open-ended practice to creatively solve engineering problems. With its blend of virtual and real platforms, industry-oriented design, and innovation-driven evaluation, the competition fosters a comprehensive ecosystem for developing engineering innovation capabilities. The event plays a significant role in accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and strengthening the smart industry sector.