Innovate for Impact: Siemens Design Challenge

Join a global movement to prepare, adapt and respond to the most pressing challenges in food and water. Nurture breakthrough ideas, apply human-centered design to engineer innovative hardware solutions that help achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Tracks

Design a postharvest off-grid preservation technology

Problem definition:
A way to reduce the farm-to-table food loss in lower resource settings that lack electricity

Background:
Roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year — approximately 1.3 billion tons — is lost or wasted at a cost of roughly US $680 billion in industrialized countries and US $310 billion in developing countries. In developing countries, 40% of losses occur during the post-harvest and processing phases of food production.

Example of Applications:

1. Storage
2. Refrigeration

Prize:
One winner/winning team will be selected for the track. The winner will receive $10,000 USD and the opportunity to meet Siemens USA CEO in person. The winner will be promoted across Siemens USA and Engineering for Change platforms and receive exclusive invitations to industry events.

Design a very low-cost, energy-efficient, scalable technology for desalinating brackish water

Problem definition:
A way to remove salt contamination from water that is low-cost and energy-efficient.

Background:
97.5% of water on the Earth contains salt, making it unsuitable for drinking or farming. By 2030, nearly 35% of the world’s human population will be living in water-stressed countries. Most water that is used for drinking and farming comes from underground sources or salt-free surface water. However, these are becoming more and more unreliable. Worldwide, engineers and scientists race to develop innovative methods to remove salt from water, but current solutions are extremely energy-intensive and high-cost.

Example of Applications:

1. Drinking water
2. Irrigation for farming

Prize:
One winner/winning team will be selected for the track. The winner will receive $10,000 USD and the opportunity to meet Siemens USA CEO in person. The winner will be promoted across Siemens USA and Engineering for Change platforms and receive exclusive invitations to industry events.

Criteria

Throughout the challenge, you will be asked to:

• Submit a text-based application, explaining the problem area you are addressing and your proposed solution
• Submit a short 30-second video introducing your team and product concept
• Research and explore the needs of your end-user
• Design your concept in 3D CAD
• Iterate your design based on the research you have conducted and provide justification for your decisions
• Simulate how your product works
• Submit a video pitching your product concept

Applications will open March 4, 2020. 

Design Challenge Submission Checklist

• Sign-up as a member on the Engineering for Change (E4C) website. It’s free!
• Familiarize yourself with the Resources section, in particular —
• SDGs and 50 Breakthroughs
• Tools provided by E4C and Siemens
• Identify a problem, or opportunity, within one of the two stated challenge tracks above. Consider prior-art and how access, efficiency and/or usability might be improved through design, engineering or manufacturing.
• Review the Design Parameters document for your selected track.
• Assemble a team. While individuals may participate by themselves, it is highly beneficial to leverage diverse backgrounds. Team composition will be considered during the judging process.
• Draft an initial solution concept. Note that you will refine this concept over the course of the challenge. Solutions should address one of the two challenges posted. (At the planning & concept phase, concepts may be explorative, but should start to answer the questions listed in the Design Parameters.)
• Download your free license of Siemens Solid Edge 3D CAD software here. This Solid Edge community license is extended courtesy of Siemens for use in the design challenge, and future design projects. (Note: Solid Edge tutorials will also be posted throughout challenge. You may submit entries in other CAD formats, however, we encourage you to take advantage of Siemens offer for free software, training and certification.)

Innovate for Impact: Siemens Design Challenge