On June 12, 2025, the 7th IKCEST  "Belt and Road" International Big Data Competition, also known as the 11th Baidu & Xi'an Jiaotong University Big Data Competition (International Big Data Competition), was officially launched in Chengdu, Sichuan, as a featured event of the2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange.

    Attendees of the event included Li Xiaohong, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE); Deng Xiuxin, Vice President of CAE; Dong Weimin, Executive Vice Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province; Mondher Belaid, Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Ewe Hong Tat, President of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET); Hong Jun, Vice President of Xi'an Jiaotong University; and Li Xuanya, Director of University Cooperation Department of Baidu Inc.

    Co-hosted by the International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology under the auspices of UNESCO (IKCEST), Baidu Inc., and Xi'an Jiaotong University, the International Big Data Competition leverages real-world enterprise cases to identify top-tier global talents in big data and artificial intelligence through competitive challenges. Previous editions of the competition have drawn participants from nearly 600 universities across 21 countries on five continents, with more than 24,000 teams registering cumulatively. The 2025 iteration of the competition, themed "Photo-based Problem Recognition and Solving with Large Language Models", marks the first time that participants are encouraged to utilize large models for problem-solving.

    In his speech, Li Xiaohong put forward three hopes: firstly, to focus on practical needs and drive technological innovation through a problem-oriented approach; secondly, to uphold the principles of openness and sharing, and deepen international technological exchanges and cooperation; thirdly, to strengthen the integration of industry and education, and accelerate the transformation and application of innovative achievements. On behalf of the organizers, Hong Jun delivered a message to all participants. Li Xuanya provided an overview of the competition's historical performance, as well as the theme and competition system for the 2025 edition.

    The launch ceremony received support from universities in the Chengdu-Chongqing region, including Sichuan University, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University, and Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Representatives of the organizers presented flags to delegates from these five universities, formally establishing cooperative partnerships for the competition. The opening ceremony and launch ceremony were respectively hosted by Deng Xiuxin, Vice President of the CAE and Tian Qi, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the CAE.

    It is reported that the competition consists of two sections: algorithms and AI-native design, with the latter being supported by Baidu Miaoda's technical expertise.

    Also present at the launch ceremony were relevant guests from the CAE, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Baidu Inc., the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province, and the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology, as well as faculty and students from universities in the Chengdu-Chongqing region such as Sichuan University, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University, and Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Prior to the event, Li Xiaohong and Deng Xiuxin held a courtesy meeting with foreign guests.