The 2026 Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin Artificial Intelligence Competition & Macao International Invitational Competition kicked off at Pui Ching Middle School in Macao on August 23.
Built under the collaborative development framework between Macao and Hengqin, the event aims to provide a global platform for young innovators to showcase their capabilities in AI and robotics.
AI enthusiasts from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao participated in the competition. Macao alone fielded nearly 200 contestants, setting a new local participation record.
The event also drew participants from Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Australia and Bahrain. A total of nearly 600 participants joined the competition.
The competition highlights cutting-edge AI developments. New competition segments include the Embodied Intelligence Challenge and the AI Agent Application Innovation Challenge. Meanwhile, the upgraded drone track has been transformed into a low-altitude smart network collaborative challenge, simulating multi-drone coordination and integrated air-ground scenarios.
Other events cover 3D aerospace and 3D AI applications, striking a balance between technical depth and hands-on engagement.
Running alongside the main contest was an international youth tech study camp. It brought participating teams on visits to aviation museums, traditional Chinese medicine cultural experience centers, science museums and other technology and culture venues across Zhuhai, Hengqin and Macao.
Contestants highly praised the event for its originality, high level of internationalization and its role in broadening their horizons and fostering global connections.
Text | South reporter Huang Xinyi, Sun Lulu (intern)
Photos | Hengqin Online
