Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) announced the results of the 2024 China International College Students’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. The project “Domesis: A Leading Domestic Green Cat Litter” from NCG emerged victorious among 5.14 million global entries, securing the Gold Award in the Higher Education Main Track. This achievement marks the college’s first-ever gold medal in this prestigious competition and establishes it as the only private university in Guangdong Province to attain such recognition.
The competition, hosted by the MoE, is one of the most influential and largest youth innovation and entrepreneurship contests globally, with the highest level of prestige in China. Since the competition's launch in May, it attracted 5.14 million projects, with the odds of winning gold being a mere 0.0009%.
NCG placed great emphasis on this competition since the outset, with the Office of Academic Affairs meticulously planning the participation strategy. Several industry experts were invited to guide the team through multiple rounds of advice and feedback, providing comprehensive support that greatly enhanced the project's quality and depth. With the strong support from both the university and its dedicated alumni, the project team received exceptional guidance from instructors, who worked closely and synergistically with the team members, achieving the best result in the university’s history at this competition.
The inspiration for the project stemmed from the team's desire for safe, environmentally friendly cat litter. After extensive discussion and research, the team proposed an innovative approach to cat litter production—integrating waste bamboo materials into the manufacturing process.
By selecting, processing, and scientifically blending waste bamboo materials, the project team successfully incorporated them into the cat litter, maintaining the product’s excellent original properties while significantly reducing waste accumulation. In the marketing phase, the team introduced AI technology to enhance the precision and efficiency of market promotion, giving the project a competitive edge in the fiercely competitive market.
The project’s success, according to the team, was the result of not only persistent effort but also the integration of expertise across various fields, mutual trust among team members, and strong support from outstanding alumni. Guangdong Yuekong Infinite International Trade Co., Ltd., an alumni enterprise, assisted the project by solving practical challenges related to venue and funding. The project team was composed of members from several schools, including the School of Public Administration, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Accounting, and School of Business. The guidance of professors from these diverse disciplines—who brought both rich academic backgrounds and practical experience—provided the team with holistic support.
For years, the university has prioritized innovation and entrepreneurship education, considering it a systematic initiative. By promoting learning, teaching, and creative practices through competitions, industry-university cooperation, and mentorship, the university has continuously stimulated students’ innovative potential and provided abundant practical platforms. These efforts have led to a series of positive outcomes.
Nanfang College, Guangzhou will harness this victory as a new starting point to continuously refine its innovation and entrepreneurship education model. The university will further enhance its industry-university cooperation, integration of industrial cultivation and education, and scientific and educational fusion, actively promoting the conversion of achievements into tangible outcomes. It is committed to cultivating high-quality, interdisciplinary talents that can contribute to the region’s economic and social development.
