2025 Press release #1
The 2nd International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) Launches in Beijing
The 2nd International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) is set to begin in Beijing, China from August 2 to 9, 2025, hosted by Beijing National Day School (BNDS). The competition will bring together 310 students from 63 countries and territories, forming 80 teams in the worldās largest AI contest for high school students ā a global celebration of youth, technology, and innovation.
The International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence was established on the initiative of Bulgaria, which hosted the inaugural edition in August 2024. Endorsed by the President Ā of Bulgaria and Ministry of Education of Bulgaria, IOAI was developed in collaboration with leading global experts from institutions such as MIT, Oxford University, University of Copenhagen, and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). As the first high-level academic competition in AI for secondary school students, IOAI established a rigorous academic structure and joined the prestigious family of International Science Olympiads.
IOAI is a STEM competition designed to inspire, develop, and showcase the worldās most promising students in the field of artificial intelligence. Each year, the Olympiad focuses on different domains across the AI landscape. As an event dedicated to artificial intelligence, IOAI is also committed to engaging with the broader public on ethical issues and the future of AI, fostering responsible dialogue beyond the competition.
The first edition, held in Bulgaria, welcomed participants from over 30 countries and territories across six continents, with more than 40 teamsāsetting a record for the highest number of participating countries and territories in the inaugural edition of a science Olympiad.Ā
Flag handover at the 2024 IOAI closing ceremony: Chinese team leader Zheng Zijie receives the IOAI flag.
The 2025 IOAI has received strong support from the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and the Haidian District Government. Leveraging Haidianās rich AI industry resources, the event benefits from a robust foundation for innovation. Academic guidance is provided by the Zhongguancun Institute and the Beijing Institute of Science and Intelligence.
Leading AI companies such as Huawei, Taobao and Tmall Group, Volcano Engine, DP Technology, Galbot, and NetEase Youdao will provide platforms, technical support, computing power, and AI translation. International partners including IMC Group, MBZUAI, and Jane Street have also joined, underscoring the global industryās commitment to nurturing AI talent and cross-sector collaboration.
This yearās IOAI features two main modules: the Team Challenge and Individual Contest, designed to comprehensively assess studentsā AI innovation capabilities.
Team Challenge: Simulated and Physical āFuture Factoryā
Supported exclusively by Galbot, the Team Challenge is themed āFuture Factoryā and integrates simulation with real-world deployment. It unfolds in two stages:
- Simulation Phase (Aug 4th, 13:00ā18:00): Student teams complete full-cycle developmentātask analysis, algorithm design, and programmingāin a virtual factory environment.
- Real Robot Validation Phase (Aug 6th, 16:30ā18:00): The top 10 teams deploy optimized code to Galbotās embodied robots, executing tasks in a physically reconstructed factory environment to test real-world reliability and embodied AI performance.
Demonstration of Galbot robots operating in a simulated industrial setting.
This marks the worldās first international AI challenge built on real embodied robots. It cultivates studentsā capabilities in three key dimensions:
- Hands-on engineering with real-world systemsā bridging AI algorithms and real-world robotic execution
- Full-stack teamwork and collaborationāworking together from model design to real-machine integration
- Industrial thinking in high-fidelity environmentsāsolving practical problems aligned with real industrial and manufacturing needs
The Individual Contest includes a pre-event online warm-up and an on-site competition, powered by DP Technologyās Bohrium Platform:
- At-Home Stage (July 1st to July 30th): Students complete three practice problems (non-graded) to get familiar with the platform, task style, and process.
- On-site Challenge (August 5th to 6th): Over two days, students will solve six problems (six hours per day), covering machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Tasks are developed by top universities and tech companies and reviewed by IOAIās Scientific Committee. Students may use a pre-configured large language model as a support tool.
Bohrium Platform by DP Technology , supporting the Individual Contest.
IOAI is the first global high school competition to adopt an on-demand computing trigger mechanism, breaking from traditional centralized scheduling. This allows participants to activate and allocate computing resources in real time, demanding high responsiveness and fairness.
Compared with machine learning competition platforms such as Kaggle, IOAI requires participants to complete intensive tasks within a much shorter timeframe and must completely eliminate system delays caused by computing resource queues. This poses more stringent challenges for competition design, resource estimation, and scheduling strategies. DP Technologyās Bohrium Platform served as the exclusive support platform for the individual challenge, enabling rapid and flexible scheduling of massive computing resources, with the computing power provided by Volcano Engine. Over several months, the technical team worked collaboratively to optimize the architecture, aiming to build a fair, efficient, and controllable real-time competition environment for all participants.
The 8-day IOAI is not only a top-tier academic event but also a cultural and technological exchange journey. The organizing committee has arranged extensive site visits and cultural activities to deepen participantsā understanding of AI and promote international dialogue.
Tech Exploration: AI in Practice
- August 3rd: Participants will visit Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, top AI companies, and universities to explore Haidianās innovation ecosystem. A dedicated āAI + Educationā forum will engage team leaders and observers in in-depth discussions.
- August 8th (Morning): The āSchool-Enterprise Matchmaking Eventā will showcase mature AI solutions from companies and universities, supporting Haidianās global outreach and attracting international youth talent.
Cultural Immersion: Savoring the Spirit of the Ancient Capital
In addition to the contest, students will visit the Great Wall and Summer Palace, experiencing the charm of Beijingās heritage and classical Chinese garden aesthetics. Hands-on workshops in traditional Chinese culture will offer global youth a deeper appreciation of Chinaās rich cultural legacy.
The official mascot and visual system for IOAI 2025 have been released, embodying values of responsible technology, creativity, openness, and the Chinese voice in global tech culture.
The mascot āZ-Loongā was designed by BNDS student Song Yiyang, inspired by the schoolās original dragon character. This friendly and vibrant AI-enhanced dragon features multicolored scales and soft curved hornsāsymbols of wisdom, courage, and inclusivity.
IOAI 2025 mascot āZ-Loongā.
The IOAI 2025 medals also reflect thoughtful design:
- The front features neural network patterns and the āIOAIā logo, symbolizing logic and connectivity in AI.
- The back showcases a winding Great Wall with the inscriptions ā2025 Beijing Chinaā and āBeijing National Day School,ā symbolizing Chinaās global hosting commitment.
IOAI 2025 Medal Design.
From algorithmic competition to cultural exchange, from cutting-edge challenges to global friendship, the 2nd IOAI carries the dreams and creativity of youth worldwide. With strong support from the Beijing government, Haidian government and wide engagement across society, preparations are well underway for academic sessions, student activities, volunteer services, and event logistics.
We look forward to welcoming young talents from around the globe to connect minds, share ideas, and explore the boundless possibilities of AIātogether.
Hosted by: Beijing National Day School (BNDS) and ITCCC
Under the patronage of: UNESCO
Academically guided by: Zhongguancun Academy, and AI for Science Institute, Beijing
Guided by: Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and Haidian District Peopleās Government of Beijing Municipality
Co-organized by: NOAI Organizing Committee
Industry partners include:
Local Platinum Sponsors: Huawei, Taobao and Tmall Group
Technology partners: Volcano Engine, DP Technology, Galbot (å å°åē¹), and NetEase Youdao.
International partners include:
Global Diamond Sponsor: IMC Group
Global Gold Sponsor: Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)
Local Gold Sponsor: Jane Street
Local Silver Sponsor (GAITE Program): TURING