[Photo provided to China Daily]

Young creative talent in China from the fields of art and science were honored at the prize distribution ceremony of the annual Tencent Next Idea Innovation Competition in Beijing recently.

The winners of the competition — themed "Future Imagination — came from 11 categories including literature, game, design and films.

Works were invited from students from more than 2,000 colleges and universities around China.

At the event, some of the works were displayed at an exhibition that featured interactive experiences and stage performances.

The section of the competition focusing on future intelligent life received nearly 1,000 entries, including an intelligent tie-dyeing machine and an intelligent medicine box that can dispense pills automatically.

Besides exploring technology, the competition also focused on traditional culture. Two sections in the competition focused on IPs based on the Palace Museum and the Great Wall.

The competition, initiated in 2012 by Tencent, aims to boost creativity among the youth.

Meanwhile, a report by China Economic Yearbook, a publication affiliated to the Development Research Center of the State Council, and Tencent's social research center, was also released at the event.

Commenting on the competition, Huang Bin, an associate researcher from the DRC, and one of those responsible for the report, says that it has become a platform — both online and offline — to boost innovation by connecting creators, professionals and cultural organizations.