On October 11, 2019, thirteen national departments issued the Special Action Plan for Improving Manufacturing Design Capabilities (2019-2022). As a key component of strategic emerging industries, industrial design has become a critical driver for high-quality economic development by leading the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, promoting consumption upgrading, and deepening supply-side structural reforms. The China (Blue Light Cup) Watch and Clock Design Competition has established a competitive innovation platform, which is conducive to advancing industrial design in China's watch and clock industry, enhancing the level of original design, making Chinese watches and clocks more popular among consumers, and promoting the healthy and sustainable development of China's watch and clock industry.

Since 2013, the "China (Blue Light Cup) Watch and Clock Design Competition" has been held every two years. The first six editions of the competition were successfully hosted in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. The 7th China Watch and Clock Design Competition was officially launched in Longwen District, Zhangzhou City in 2025.