When youthful aspirations take root in real industries and cutting-edge algorithms illuminate smart manufacturing, there exists a cohort of trailblazers. Armed with technology as their blade and passion as their sail, they break outdated paradigms and forge new possibilities amid the tides of the era.

    On June 16, the official release of 36Kr’s 2026 "36 Under 36" list took place. Yan Cong, Co-founder and CTO of DSTEK, secured a spot on this prestigious roster showcasing China’s elite young tech innovators, thanks to over a decade of dedicated research and technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, industrial large models and AI vision.

    Since its launch, 36Kr’s "36 Under 36" initiative has spotlighted outstanding entrepreneurs, tech innovators and investors aged under 36, unearthing emerging talents who transcend conventional mindsets and reshape industrial landscapes through innovation. As philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn put it, disruptive breakthroughs are often forged by young minds unshackled from outdated paradigms—and Yan Cong stands as a prime example of such young scientific minds. For more than ten years, he has entrenched himself in the industrial AI track, advancing from frontline R&D engineer to technical team leader. He has steadfastly upheld his original aspiration for scientific research, translating cutting-edge lab technologies into real-world applications across diverse industries. With youthful ingenuity, he redefines the future of industrial vision, embodying the vision and responsibility of "technology transforming the world" through tangible action.

   The Path Taken and Companions Along the Way

     Yan Cong holds a Master’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in the United States. Under the tutelage of Professor Alexander Flueck, he leveraged machine learning to optimize smart grid scheduling—marking the starting point of his journey with algorithms, and the origin of his core belief: "make algorithms run on production lines."

    After joining DSTEK, he pivoted to the industrial vision track and led the development of an in-house deep learning framework built on TensorFlow. His team rapidly rolled out fully automatic EL inspection systems for battery cells, representing one of China’s earliest industrial deep learning deployments. The entire transition from lab prototype to mass production lines was completed within mere months.

    He never rests on past achievements nor settles for existing breakthroughs. Amid the global AI revolution, Yan Cong keenly identified emerging industry trends and spearheaded his team to integrate state-of-the-art technologies into core scenarios spanning smart manufacturing, high-end manufacturing and precision processing. These technologies include automated labeling powered by industrial large models, AIGC industrial image generation, few-shot/zero-shot industrial visual learning, multimodal industrial large models, lightweight edge AI deployment, and digital twin visual perception.

    He firmly believes traditional machine vision will fully evolve toward general-purpose industrial artificial intelligence, and forward-looking technological layout holds the key to capturing future market opportunities. Over the past decade, application scenarios have continuously evolved, yet his core conviction—"make algorithms run on production lines"—remains unwavering.

    This Summer: A New Starting Line

    This year’s 36Kr WAVES2026 New Wave Summit carries the theme "This Summer", symbolizing a season of recovery and growth for China’s venture capital and innovation ecosystem.

    DSTEK’s robust technological capabilities have earned widespread validation across global markets. Today, the company’s business footprint covers more than 30 countries and regions including China, North America, Europe, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. It has established partnerships with over 50 leading global enterprises such as Tesla supply chain players, Apple supply chain partners, SONY, Samsung, LG, CISCO, Schaeffler, BYD, CATL and EVE Energy. The firm has delivered more than 15,000 intelligent production lines in total, empowering the transformation and upgrading of high-end manufacturing with robust technological prowess.

    Moving forward, DSTEK will continue to deepen its focus on industrial AI, drive manufacturing upgrades through technological innovation, and build an open, inclusive innovation ecosystem. The company will nurture more young technical talents to grow and thrive, writing a new chapter for China’s industrial AI amid industrial transformation.

    A tribute to all young entrepreneurs who reject outdated solutions and keep charging forward on the path of innovation. Seasons come and go, yet the fervor for value creation burns endlessly. Innovation never fades, and this summer of progress endures forever.