The 2025 Hult Prize Taiwan Regional Finals, renowned as the "Nobel Prize for Students," concluded its successful run on April 26th and 27th in Tainan. This prestigious competition, which challenges young people worldwide to solve the planet's most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship, saw an international student team, Renaisun, from National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) emerge victorious. The team was mentored by Professor Huang Nen-Fu, the current President of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (STUST) and a former faculty member of NTHU. Renaisun's innovative agri-tech venture propelled them to the top, adding another brilliant chapter to Taiwan's social innovation landscape.

【President Huang Nen-Fu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (center) with the international student team Renaisun from National Tsing Hua University, winners of the Hult Prize Taiwan Regional Finals. The team, advised by President Huang, includes (from left) Gerraldo, Mai, Angela, team leader Bagas, and Bryan.】

"Student Nobel Prize" Empowers Youth to Tackle Global Challenges

The Hult Prize is an annual competition that encourages university students to develop groundbreaking business ideas addressing urgent global challenges such as food security, water access, energy, and education. Named in honor of Bertil Hult, the prize is widely recognized as the "Nobel Prize for students." This year marked the debut of the Hult Prize Taiwan Regional Finals in Tainan, hosted by the Future Intelligence Manufacturing Research Center of National Cheng Kung University and fully sponsored by Bank SinoPac. The event drew over 200 entrepreneurial teams from universities across Taiwan, with 19 teams advancing to the national finals. Their diverse proposals spanned fields like biotechnology, climate technology, and healthcare, demonstrating the passion and ingenuity of Taiwan's youth in tackling global issues.

【Winners of the 2025 Hult Prize Taiwan National Competition are awarded by Alden Zecha, Expert in Residence of Hult Prize (first from left), and Dr. Ping-Sheng Wu, Senior Vice President of NCKU (first from right). The winning team is Renaisun of NTHU. 】

NTHU Team's AI-Powered Smart Drying System Earns Top Honors

Following an intense preliminary round, six teams advanced to the grand finals held at National Cheng Kung University's Wang Hong Building on April 27th. The final competition was fierce, with each team showcasing their entrepreneurial prowess through professional presentations and insightful Q&A sessions that garnered high praise from the judging panel. Ultimately, the Renaisun team from National Tsing Hua University clinched the championship with their innovative solution focused on agricultural drying.

【Award Winning Team comprises international students from NTHU, has a strong background in IT and Business administration. 】

International Collaboration for Sustainable Agriculture

Renaisun Renaisun's winning project, an "AI-Powered Solar Low-Carbon Drying System," cleverly integrates solar energy, the Internet of Things (IoT), and AI visual recognition technology. The system is designed to provide small and medium-sized farmers with an efficient, energy-saving, and real-time monitoring solution for crop drying, ultimately improving product quality, reducing food waste, and increasing farmers' income. This international team with interdisciplinary expertise in information systems and business administration. Team leader Bagas from Indonesia, holding a Bachelor's degree in Agribusiness Management and a Master's degree in Information Systems from NTHU, provided crucial leadership. He was supported by fellow Indonesian students Gerraldo and Bryan, both with strong IT backgrounds. Completing the team were Mai, Angela, and Punnet, all MBA graduates who contributed invaluable business model and marketing strategies.

STUST President Praises Team's Achievement and Foresees Local Implementation

President Huang Nen-Fu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology expressed his sincere joy and pride in the National Tsing Hua University international team's remarkable achievement under his guidance. He affirmed that this honor is a testament to his dedication to fostering talent. President Huang further stated that Renaisun's initial goal was to develop an AI-powered solar low-carbon drying system to provide high-quality, low-cost, and low-emission crop drying services to farmers in Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, and other rural areas worldwide. He noted the team's recent recognition in various international entrepreneurial competitions and their future plans to establish an AI startup in Taiwan, with the aim of eventually expanding internationally to serve a broader agricultural community.

Team to Represent Taiwan Globally, Competing for Million-Dollar Prize

According to the competition regulations, the Renaisun team will now represent Taiwan in the global semifinals of the Hult Prize and participate in the global accelerator program. They will have the opportunity to advance to the top 25 and travel to the United Kingdom to compete against national champion teams from around the world for a grand prize of US$1 million in seed funding.

STUST Continues to Promote Innovation and Cultivate Globally Competitive AI Talent

STUST, under the leadership of President Huang Nen-Fu, remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship education, demonstrating its support for young ventures and cultivating more globally competitive professionals equipped with sustainable AI skills.