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Dassault Systèmes launches 2020 Innovate for Sustainability challenge

Dassault Systèmes launches 2020 competition to tackle UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Dezeen promotion: Dassault Systèmes is inviting entries to its second annual Innovate for Sustainability Challenge, which calls on students to tackle global issues from ocean pollution to overconsumption using the company's 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

The competition challenges students above 18 years old from around the world to come up with design solutions to one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Out of the list of 17 goals, which was set out by the UN in 2015 as a blueprint to lead us towards a more sustainable future, Dassault Systèmes has selected the four that it sees as the most pressing.

This includes the need for affordable renewable energy, sustainable cities and infrastructure, responsible production and consumption as well as for safeguarding life in our oceans.

Dassault Systèmes launches 2020 competition to tackle UN's Sustainable Development Goals
One of the SDGs speaks to the need for affordable clean energy such as wind power

Students can work by themselves or in groups of up to five people to address one of these goals and present their concept using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

"You don't need previous design experience, all you need is imagination and a drive to change the world," said the company.

As part of the competition, students will be given free access to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which unites Dassault's industry-standard 3D modelling and simulation software under one roof.

By the end of October, prospective participants must register for a free license to use the platform and fill out a questionnaire about their idea, how it addresses the chosen sustainability goal and how they plan to use the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to bring it to life.

Throughout, they can get help from fellow students as well as from Dassault Systèmes's own experts via a dedicated online community.

Another SDG is to cut down on overconsumption reform global supply chains

In November, each team that has submitted a questionnaire will be invited to a boot camp, in which Dassault Systèmes mentors and specialists will help students to refine their idea and their skills using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Final projects will be submitted for evaluation by a panel of industry experts at the end of December, for the chance to win one of seven prizes.

The grand prize will see students able to pitch their idea in front of a panel of some of the world's leading experts in design and engineering, either as part of Dassault Systèmes's 3DEXPERIENCE World conference or at the annual conference of the American Society for Engineering Education in June 2021.

Entry deadline is 30 October 2020

Dedicated prizes will also be awarded for projects that best meet each of the four Sustainable Development Goals and for the one that makes the best use of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Dassault Systèmes's employees will give out one prize for their favourite project, determined via a company-wide poll.

The company, which was ranked the number one most sustainable corporation in the world by Corporate Knights in 2018, has previously teamed up with designers and architects including Kengo Kuma to reduce air pollution.

Entrants to the Innovate for Sustainability student challenge must submit their questionnaire by 30 October 2020.

To find out more about the submission guidelines and to register for a free 3DEXPERIENCE platform license, visit the competition website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Dassault Systèmes as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.