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Taiwan students take home 26 medals. (CNA, NTNU photo)

(Taiwan News/By Michael Nakhiengchanh) Taiwan’s young inventors claimed eight gold, 11 silver, and seven bronze medals at the 21st International Exhibition for Young Inventors in Osaka, Japan, last week — showcasing creativity in everyday problem-solving.

The team was led by National Taiwan Normal University industrial education professor Hung Jung-chao (洪榮昭), per CNA. The school said the exhibition, open to participants aged 6 to 19, aims to promote creativity and invention in disaster management, science, social care, and other fields.

This year’s event featured 156 entries, with judging based on Q&A sessions. The competition awarded 18 gold, 28 silver, and 31 bronze medals, with Taiwan taking home nearly half of the golds.

Among the winners, a Stella Maris Primary School team from Hualien County earned gold for a table tennis paddle-shaped ball picker that collects, stores, and serves balls to improve training efficiency. The design includes a detachable handle with a serving device, storage for collected balls, and app-controlled manual or automatic modes for obstacle detection.

Another gold went to a Yilan Elementary School team for a multifunctional water cup. It features a rotating sleeve for insulation, a base that doubles as a coaster with heating or cooling via USB, and a lid that tracks daily water intake.