The XI China Undergraduate Medical Innovation Tournament and The Belt and Road International Competition took place on August 16–19 in Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
The grand opening ceremony, held on the central campus of Shandong University, brought together delegations from Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, Japan, Macau, Thailand, India, Pakistan, and other countries. Omsk State Medical University was represented by Svetlana A. PISKLAKOVA, Head of the International Affairs Department, and Elena V. SAVCHENKO, translator of the International Affairs Department, PhD student of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, including Postgraduate Training Courses.
Prof. Yi Fang, Vice President of Shandong University, delivered a welcoming speech to the participants. He emphasized that the university’s historical status as one of China's oldest and most prestigious institutions has made Jinan a global hub of ideas. The unique combination of cutting-edge science, strong foundational education, and deep respect for tradition allows Shandong University to train world-class professionals not only in medicine but across multiple fields.
Prof. Yi Fang also highlighted the importance of state support for youth science, stressing that such large-scale international events are made possible thanks to the government’s commitment. He noted that Shandong is one of China's largest provinces with a strategic focus on building a strong scientific nation. The Tournament offers China a platform to showcase its best achievements, exchange innovative ideas with young researchers from around the world, and promote collaboration for future breakthroughs. He concluded by expressing gratitude to the organizing committee and volunteers for their tremendous work and encouraged the participants to dream big, explore boldly, and innovate for the future.
The scientific tone of the event was set by the plenary lectures: Prof. Fan Jiancheng, Vice President of Beihang University (Beijing), presented a report titled «Advances in Zero-Magnetic Medicine and Equipment», while Prof. Dong Erdan from the Southern University of Science and Technology (Shenzhen) spoke to the Tournament participants about technological innovations as a driver of healthcare development. The roundtable discussion also addressed topics such as interdisciplinary training for medical researchers and the role of artificial intelligence in developing clinical skills.
After months of preparation, participants had the long-awaited opportunity to present their projects before an expert jury. Students, postgraduates, and faculty members from medical universities competed in an inspiring atmosphere. The jury included leading experts in internal medicine, surgery, dentistry, and fundamental sciences. The OSMU team presented the results of their research project titled «Early Cognitive Development Using the Playcognize Set», developed by Elena V. SAVCHENKO, Ekaterina D. SVYATOGOROVA, and Erzhan S. SERGAZY under the supervision of Svetlana A. PISKLAKOVA. A hallmark of the 11th China Student Medical Innovation Tournament was its interdisciplinary approach; in addition to medical professionals, the jury included engineers, designers, and specialists in IT and artificial intelligence. The OSMU team's project received high praise: they were awarded 2nd place in the category «Interdisciplinary Projects» and also received the prize for «Best Research Work».
The closing ceremony took place on August 19, celebrating knowledge, teamwork, and international friendship. Young researchers gathered once again on the central campus of Shandong University to receive their awards, hear speeches from the laureates, and enjoy performances prepared by university students. The ceremony concluded with the symbolic handover to the next host - Fudan University in Shanghai, which will organize the event in 2026.
The OSMU team expresses heartfelt gratitude to the organizers, the administration of OSMU for their support, and looks forward to continued fruitful collaboration with Chinese and global universities within the framework of the «Belt and Road» Initiative.
International Affairs Department, OSMU
