Professor Zhao Bin and Associate Researcher Li Hongzhi's team from our institute won the championship in the Academic and Research Center category at the 2026 MWCapital Awards

Professor Zhao Bin and Associate Researcher Li Hongzhi's team from our institute won the championship in the Academic and Research Center category at the 2026 MWCapital Awards

On June 18, 2026, the 2026 MWCapital award ceremony was held in Barcelona, Spain. The project "RCare" (an AI-enabled millimeter-wave radar vital-signs monitoring system that achieves clinical-grade, contactless monitoring of vital signs, including heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram) — developed by the team of Professor Zhao Bin and Associate Researcher Li Hongzhi from our institute — was selected among the top 17 finalists in this global science and technology innovation competition and won the championship in the Academic and Research Center category. It was also the only Asian project among the six winning championship projects.

The MWCapital Awards are jointly organized and hosted by the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) Foundry, B Lab Spain, Spain's Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service, and Red.es. The awards aim to recognize outstanding technology projects that drive digital transformation and promote sustainable development and positive social impact. This event received a total of 298 project entries from 62 countries, of which 17 finalist projects were selected for their innovation, scalability, and contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Subsequently, after rigorous evaluation, the jury selected six winning championship projects from the different award categories, honoring these six innovative projects that use advanced technology to address global social and environmental challenges. All MWCapital Awards winners will gain international exposure and the opportunity to participate in collaborative projects within the global innovation ecosystem. The selected projects will also be invited to showcase their solutions at the next MWC Barcelona, a platform that offers projects broader exposure as well as opportunities to establish strategic partnerships.

Group photo at the award ceremony

Associate Researcher Li Hongzhi and the team's master's student AYUKOCHA GANDHI BESSEMNTOH AYUKNSO attending the award ceremony