The 11th 'Maker China' SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition's Additive Manufacturing Finals will be held in Luzhou, Sichuan, from September 1–3, 2026 (confirmed by the Luzhou Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology on August 31). Co-hosted by the Cyberspace Industry Development Center of MIIT and the Sichuan Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, and organized by Luzhou Aviation Development Investment Group, this marks the first time 'Maker China' has established a dedicated additive manufacturing track. A total of 96 projects were registered (33 enterprise group, 63 startup group), with 25 advancing to the finals from each category. The competition covers seven key areas: metal additive manufacturing, polymers and composites, biomedical applications, equipment and core components, materials, design and simulation software, and AI-empowered AM. Metal additive manufacturing tops the agenda, with focus on breakthroughs in LPBF/EBM/DED equipment and core components, high-performance metal powder preparation, and process simulation and quality control. Onsite pitch presentations with live scoring and full notarization were conducted. The enterprise group will award 1 first prize, 3 second prizes, and 6 third prizes. Winning projects will be integrated into the China Additive Manufacturing Industry Alliance ecosystem. From November 26–28, the Luzhou International Additive Manufacturing Technology and Application Ecology Expo will feature roadshows of the winning projects. Value for powder buyers: ① High-performance metal powder preparation has been designated as a key breakthrough area in this national-level competition, giving policy backing to industry innovation momentum; ② Participating and winning SMEs serve as a forward-looking radar for new powder materials and application innovations, offering early insight into emerging material grades and supply capabilities.