By Jin Lu

A small manufacturing town in Ningbo is turning university students' capstone projects into new products, helping local manufacturers boost innovation while attracting young talent.

At the recent 2026 Joint Graduation Design Program showcase in Xidian Town, Ninghai County, six student projects were selected for commercial partnerships, out of 44 entries submitted by students from 21 universities across China.

Launched in 2023 by Ninghai County and Donghua University, the program is designed to bridge academia and industry. Local manufacturers propose real-world production challenges, while students develop solutions as their graduation projects. Each team is jointly supervised by a university faculty member and an industry mentor, helping ideas progress from the classroom to the production line.

The initiative has expanded rapidly. Participation has grown from 12 universities in its first year to 70 this year. Over the past three years, more than 170 student projects have been adopted by local companies, with 18 progressing to commercial agreements and many already entering mass production.

For manufacturers, the program offers a cost-effective way to access new ideas and product designs. One local lighting company, for example, has incorporated more than a dozen student concepts into its product development pipeline.

Several projects have already achieved commercial success. An outdoor camping lamp developed through the program has generated more than 4 million yuan in overseas orders, while a multifunctional bicycle light has also been brought to market.

The initiative is also helping local companies recruit young talent. Several students who came to Xidian for project-based internships have accepted full-time positions with participating manufacturers after graduation.

As county-level economies across China seek new drivers of growth, Xidian's experience suggests that closer collaboration between universities and manufacturers can help smaller industrial hubs strengthen innovation, commercialize new ideas and build a more sustainable talent pipeline.