The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), in conjunction with ICBC Macau, has hosted its three-month-long FinTech Innovation Competition for National College Students, which was aimed at, according to ICBC Macau Deputy Chief Executive Officer Gong Guangqing, cultivating local financial technology (Fintech) talents.
A total of 257 contestants from 20 universities submitted 72 projects, covering artificial intelligence (AI), green finance, cross-border finance, digital currency, and anti-money laundering, among other fields. Only 18 of them were shortlisted for the finals, which took place at Colégio Diocesano de São José 6 (CDSJ6) in Ilha Verde district yesterday.
Gong noted in a speech during the event that the competition has been successfully held for three consecutive years, with the total number of contestants accounting for more than 700, adding that ICBC has offered every winner training and internship opportunities. Gong also said he expected the competition to raise young people’s awareness of innovation and entrepreneurship and thus cultivate more “high-quality talents” to meet Macau’s “1+4” development needs.
In the government’s “1+4” development drive, “1” refers to Macau’s target of being the nation’s World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, while “4” refers to the continuous promotion of four new local key industries, namely big health; modern finance; high-tech; and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions), culture and sport.
Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) Deputy Director Teng Sio Hong underlined in a speech during the event that the cultivation of talents requires not only the joint efforts of education sector peers, but also the full assistance by people from all walks of life.
The first prize was presented to a Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) team comprising Huang Haoze, Lu Yuning and Cui Kai, whose project was titled “Macau Shield No.1: Digital Credit Risk Management Platform for Macau SMEs”.
“SMEs” stands for small and medium-sized enterprises.
ICBC Macau Deputy Chief Executive Officer Gong Guangqing (left) and Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) Deputy Director Teng Sio Hong deliver their respective speeches before the finals of the ICBC FinTech Innovation Competition for National College Students, at Colégio Diocesano de São José 6 (CDSJ6) in Ilha Verde district yesterday. – Photo combo: Yuki Lei
