The China Bridge Challenge is a cross-cultural case competition that brings together undergraduate students from the United States and Greater China to examine complex shared challenges and develop innovative, collaborative solutions.
At a time when the U.S.-China relationship faces growing challenges across education and research, trade and technology, geopolitics, and people-to-people exchange, opportunities for meaningful dialogue and collaboration are increasingly important. Building an equitable, peaceful, and sustainable relationship requires mutual understanding, practical cooperation, and a new generation of leaders who can work across cultural and national boundaries.
With support from the Henry Luce Foundation, the China Bridge Challenge is expanding into a multi-institutional Midwestern initiative. Students from the University of Minnesota and partner universities will work together around an annual theme that connects global challenges with local communities, industries, and institutions. Teams will engage with faculty, practitioners, and community or industry partners as they develop concrete proposals that reflect perspectives from both the United States and China.
Teams will consist of 4–5 undergraduate students:
- Each team must include at least one international student from the Greater China region and at least one U.S. domestic student.
Teams will advance through a written proposal and presentation process, developing practical recommendations that consider the interests and perspectives of both countries. Finalist teams will be invited to the China Bridge Challenge Symposium at the University of Minnesota, where they will present their proposals to a panel of faculty, industry, and community experts.
The winning team will receive $6,000, and the runner-up will receive $4,000. The winning team will also participate in the China Bridge Field Immersion, a seven-day educational and professional experience in China. Students will meet with academic, industry, and other local stakeholders, participate in site visits related to the competition theme, and deepen their understanding of the issues they explored through the Challenge.
Competition Timeline
November 15, 2026: Apply as a team or as an individual
Teams will consist of 4–5 undergraduate students. Each team must include at least one international student from the Greater China region and at least one U.S. domestic student. Students may apply either individually or as a pre-formed team. All applicants will be notified of their final team assignments by November 22, 2026.
December 1, 2026: Deadline to identify a coach
Each team will identify a faculty coach after confirmation of team participation, and submit a signed Coach Guidelines Form by December 1, 2026.
January 15, 2027: Deadline for written proposal
Each team will submit a 1,000–1,500-word written proposal outlining the project scope, relevance of the topic, the challenge being addressed, the proposed solution, feasibility, and anticipated impact. Teams should consider the resources, expertise, and partnerships available through their home institutions and local communities.
Students are encouraged to use design thinking and other problem-solving approaches to explore why and how the U.S. and China can work together to address the identified challenge. Proposals should demonstrate meaningful cross-cultural collaboration and present a practical solution that considers perspectives and interests from both countries.
The written proposals will be used to assess each team’s progress and select the finalists who will advance to the Minneapolis Symposium.
See the proposal template.
January 31, 2027: Selection of finalists
Teams will be notified by January 31, 2027, if they are selected as finalists. Finalist teams will then work with their faculty coach to refine their proposal and prepare for the final presentation at the Minneapolis Symposium.
February 19-20, 2027: Minneapolis Symposium
The China Bridge Challenge Symposium will bring finalist teams together in Minneapolis for a two-day program of presentations, networking, and engagement with faculty, practitioners, and community and industry leaders. Finalist teams will present their proposed projects and solutions to a panel of judges selected from faculty, staff, and subject-matter experts.
Each team will have 20 minutes to present, followed by a 15-minute Q&A with the judges. Judges will evaluate the teams using the China Bridge Challenge rubric, provide constructive feedback, and select the winning teams. The detailed presentation schedule will be finalized once the number of finalist teams is confirmed.
In addition to the competition, the Symposium will include opportunities for students to connect with peers from partner universities, hear from experts and practitioners, and explore how global challenges affect local communities, industries, and institutions.
The winning team will receive $6,000, and the runner-up team will receive $4,000. The winning team will also participate in the China Bridge Field Immersion, a seven-day educational and professional experience in China.
June-July, 2027: China Bridge Field Immersion
The winning team will participate in a seven-day China Bridge Field Immersion in China following the spring competition. The timing of the trip will be coordinated with the winning team based on students’ academic calendars and availability.
During the immersion, students will visit two Chinese cities, participate in site visits and discussions related to their project, meet with academic, industry, and community stakeholders, and share their proposed solution with relevant local partners. The experience is designed to help students move beyond classroom-based learning and gain firsthand perspectives on how shared challenges are understood and addressed in China.
Cross-Cultural Student Teams Troubleshoot Challenges of Social Media & Social Comparison
This year’s China Bridge Challenge asked students to focus on youth, social media, and social comparison, coming up with solutions that balanced the interests and objectives of both the U.S. and China.