#Baku #Azerbaijan #Huawei #Artificial Intelligence #ICPC

Huawei at the 2025 ICPC World Finals

On September 11, 2025, the excitement in Baku, Azerbaijan, reached new heights as the St. Petersburg State University team clinched the title at the 49th International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) World Finals. In a competition that saw participation from 140 elite teams across over 50 countries, this event showcased the pinnacle of programming skills and problem-solving acumen across six continents.

In the three-hour contest held at the Baku Convention Center, teams tackled 12 challenging tasks. The North Eurasia team impressively emerged as victors, leaving a trail of talented competitors in their wake. The Tokyo University team, emerging as a close second, received accolades for their remarkable performance after also claiming first in a challenge sponsored by Huawei.

Huawei’s Role in ICPC

As one of the event's main sponsors, Huawei dramatically influenced the competition by introducing a hands-on challenge focused on mobile device image optimization. This task was strategically designed to aid participants in translating theoretical algorithmic knowledge into practical industrial applications. Dr. Bill Poucher, executive director of ICPC, praised the talent displayed at the finals, noting, "Congratulations to St. Petersburg State University and Tokyo University teams. We deeply appreciate our sponsors, especially Huawei, for their support in making this event a resounding success."

Xiao Chunpeng, head of contest management at Huawei, highlighted the significance of real-world implementations of artificial intelligence. He remarked, "AI is stepping out of laboratories and is being integrated into real-life applications. Opportunities are blooming for the youth today. Huawei has always recognized the importance of foundational research, and we are proud to closely collaborate with organizations like ICPC on these international contests. By presenting the most pressing challenges faced by industries today, we're empowering the world's top talents to discover innovative solutions. This form of collaboration is what will spur progress in the AI era."

Looking Ahead

Huawei announced plans for future collaboration with ICPC, aiming to introduce more challenges for software enthusiasts online, focusing on both AI and algorithms. They intend to deepen their partnership via various initiatives, including training camps, competitions, and tech talks. This shared ambition aims to cultivate a new generation of talent while exploring solutions to real-world industry challenges encountered in fields such as artificial intelligence, computer science, and computing systems.

According to Xiao, international talent competitions not only provide a platform for evaluating participants' skills but also create synergies between talent ecosystems and various industrial sectors. "Huawei proudly supports platforms contributing to the emergence of exceptional talent globally, and we look forward to future competitions enabling young innovators to translate their technical skills and ideas into meaningful social progress and industrial development."

These vibrant discussions and competitions are testament to Huawei's commitment to fostering a new era of innovation, underscoring a collective vision of harnessing talents to drive relevant change in diverse fields. The atmosphere at the ICPC, buzzing with creativity and intelligence, heralds a bright future for artificial intelligence, driven by collaboration and industry engagement.