Core Insights - The People's Bank of China announced the winners of the 2024 Financial Technology Development Award, representing the highest honor in the financial industry for technological achievements [1] - A total of 290 projects were awarded, with 115 awards going to various banking institutions, showcasing the technological capabilities and innovative vitality of both large and small financial institutions in the AI era [1][2] Award Distribution - The awards included 1 special award, 18 first prizes, 103 second prizes, 148 third prizes, and 20 "Micro-Innovation Awards" [1] - Among the 18 first prizes, 9 were awarded to banking institutions, with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) being the only institution to win two first prizes [2] Focus on Technology - The term "intelligent" appeared 67 times, "AI" 15 times, and "large model" 28 times in the awarded projects, indicating a strong emphasis on advanced technologies [3] Performance of Smaller Institutions - Contrary to the perception that larger banks have superior technological capabilities, several small and medium-sized financial institutions received multiple awards, highlighting their innovative projects supported by AI [4] - Notable small banks like Qingdao Bank, Hunan Bank, Huishang Bank, and Gansu Rural Credit Cooperative each won two awards, focusing on specific business scenarios and intelligent applications [4] Summary of Awards by Bank Type - State-owned banks performed well, with ICBC, China Bank, and Construction Bank each winning 6 awards, while Agricultural Bank, Traffic Bank, and others also received multiple awards [5][6] - The distribution of awards among various bank types reflects a diverse range of technological advancements across the banking sector [5][6]