WORLD – AgriTech
A Pakistani technology entrepreneur has earned international recognition after winning a major innovation award at the 13th Chaoyang International Talent Entrepreneurship Conference (ITEC 2025), held in Beijing on February 7, 2026. The achievement highlights the growing role of global talent within China’s innovation-driven development framework.
Abdul Rehman, Co-Founder of the AgriTech startup SmartSoil AI, secured a RMB 200,000 government innovation grant awarded by the Chaoyang District Government. ITEC is regarded as one of Beijing’s flagship global entrepreneurship platforms, aimed at identifying high-potential technology ventures with strong commercial applicability.
In a conversation with China Economic Net, Abdul Rehman shared that the competition involved a rigorous multi-stage selection process. “Applications opened globally in May 2025, followed by international screening, semi-finals, and final presentations before expert panels. After a comprehensive evaluation, our project was selected for the award,” he said.
SmartSoil AI was recognized for its integrated smart agriculture solution that combines portable IoT soil sensors, satellite remote sensing, and artificial intelligence to deliver real-time crop diagnostics and yield optimization. The technology seeks to modernize farming practices while reducing costs for farmers, particularly in developing economies.
The startup has already built a notable presence within China’s innovation ecosystem. Prior to the ITEC award, SmartSoil AI won the Best Innovation Award at the AT Venture Builders Program and secured second place in the Youth Climate Action and Disaster Resilience Challenge jointly organized by UNESCO and Tsinghua University. The startup has also been recognized at major innovation exhibitions, including the HICOOL 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Competition.
Khan Muhammad Wazir, Science Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, observed that such achievements reflect China’s expanding openness to international innovators. He noted that by leveraging China’s strengths in AI, satellite applications, and hardware manufacturing, Pakistani startups like SmartSoil AI are well-positioned to contribute to sustainable agriculture and food security initiatives across the Global South. – APP/ERMD
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