Held from November 18 to 21, 2024, in Taizhou, Jiangsu, the National Finals of the 13th China Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition operated under the theme “Gathering for Innovation, Moving Towards the New.” The project titled “Discovery and Clinical Research of Original Anti-inflammatory and Immune Drugs,” led by Academician Zhu Yizhun—Associate Vice-President of M.U.S.T. and Dean of the School of Pharmacy—secured First Place in the Biomedical Start-up Category. This victory, achieved through substantial research results and outstanding innovation, represents the competition’s highest honor.

Since its launch in June, the competition has attracted over 10,000 teams led by professors and overseas-returned PhDs. Following intense rounds across 37 regional divisions, 204 teams advanced to the national biomedical finals (56 in the Start-up Group and 148 in the Growth Group). Entries spanned cutting-edge fields such as innovative drugs, synthetic biology, medical devices, AI healthcare systems, stem cell therapies, and mRNA vaccines. Ultimately, only six start-up teams and 14 growth-stage teams emerged from the semi-finals to compete in the championship round.

During the finals, teams showcased innovative concepts and technologies in areas such as immune drug development, cancer screening, and toxicology. A panel of judges conducted comprehensive evaluations based on technological innovation, business models, market prospects, team capability, and financial health. Distinguished by its solid research foundation and exceptional innovative potential, Academician Zhu’s project stood out among the competitors to claim the top prize.

Supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) of Macau, the project leverages the technological platforms of the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (M.U.S.T.) and the Laboratory for Natural Drug Discovery and Industrialization. This accolade provides significant momentum for the team’s future development. Moving forward, the team plans to deepen its research and collaborate with various institutions to accelerate the translation of these innovative findings into clinical applications.