On 23 September, the 2026 NEXUS “AI-Powered Innovation for Cities” Pitch Competition Finals were held at Melbourne Town Hall. The event was jointly hosted by the City of Melbourne, Nanjing Jiangbei New Area, the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI), and the Association of Australian-Chinese Scientists and Entrepreneurs (ACASE).

More than 100 guests attended the event, including Melbourne City Councillors Andrew Rowse, Gladys Liu and Kevin Louey; Ding Li, Counsellor for education affairs of the Consulate General of China in Melbourne;Shi Shan, Deputy Director of the Research and Innovation Park of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area; Liu Qing, President of the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute; Gu Yuandong, Vice President of the Institute;  Wang Yufei, President of the Association of Australian-Chinese Scientists and Entrepreneurs; Yang Heng, Chief Executive Officer of the Association; and representatives from universities, research institutions and businesses.

The Nanjing-Melbourne NEXUS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition has become an important platform and established brand for innovation and entrepreneurship cooperation between China and Australia. In 2026, seven projects stood out and advanced to the finals, with a team from Monash University taking first place in the competition. The participating entrepreneurs demonstrated how artificial intelligence can empower urban development and how scientific and technological innovation can help deepen friendship between China and Australia, contributing to greater exchanges and cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship between the two countries.