A man is awarded at the award ceremony of the first International Agricultural Maker Competition, which took place in Yuhang district, Hangzhou on Nov 19. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

The first International Agricultural Maker Competition took place in Yuhang district, Hangzhou on Nov 19.

A number of entrepreneurs participated in the contest to show off their impressive agricultural projects, which integrated agriculture with high technology. 

The contest was launched by the city on June 24 and has received 396 entries, 42 of which were from 14 foreign countries with developed agricultural industries, including Israel, Mexico, and Australia. 

Following several rounds of evaluation, 12 projects qualified for the finals. 

Hangzhou announced that it would offer as much as 1 million yuan ($142,270) in cash awards to the top 30 winners who decide to begin working in the city before the end of 2020.

Entrepreneurs who earn at least third-class awards in the competition will qualify for offices in the Yuhang Agricultural Entrepreneurship Center free of rent. 

Tian Yuan, an expert in the internet of things (IoT) industry, nabbed the top spot in the contest with his innovative project applying artificial internet of things (AIOT) technology in aquaculture. He has decided to live and work in Hangzhou. 

Hangzhou has long been focusing on attracting and cultivating skilled agricultural workers, and it recognized 100 such workers during a program it launched in August to honor their contributions to the development of agriculture.