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AI is moving fast in protein design. Protein structure prediction models are developing fast, and generative models can now design protein sequences that never existed in nature. AI-designed antibodies and binders are steadily making their way from research papers into pipelines. It’s an exciting moment that computational science is, for the first time, truly taking part in creating the molecules of life.

The Changjiang Cup 2026 Global AI Protein Design Challenge is officially launched. Guided by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, the competition is jointly initiated and hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai AI Laboratory, Lingang Laboratory, Changping Laboratory, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Academy of AI for Science, and Engine Community. It is organized by the Institute of Natural Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and co-organized by the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University; the Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University; the Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China; the Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, Fudan University; School of Engineering, Westlake University; the National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou; INESA (Group) Co., Ltd.; and the Alliance of Strategic Scientific and Technological Forces for AI for Science.

This challenge focuses on de novo protein design and real wet-lab validation. Participants will design nanobodies or minibinders against different targets. The total prize pool is CNY 1,000,000, and at least 5,000 designed sequences are expected to undergo free wet-lab testing, including expression, purification, and binding assay. The challenge is open worldwide to universities, research institutes, corporate R&D teams, interdisciplinary innovation teams, independent researchers, and individuals. Registration opened on September 24 and closes on October 31.

We warmly invite researchers across AI and life sciences to join us with their models and designs. Together, let's bring AI-designed proteins into reality!

Useful Information:

Register Now: Click Here*

*Official competition page to be announced in the next phase.

Competition Details: English Version (Click Here)/ Chinese Version (Click Here)

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 For further enquiries, please feel free to contact Dr. Gene Man at 39431453 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Ms. Tracy Wong at 39430636 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).