Pioneering event designed to connect students,researchers, and industry leaders from across Europe around the shared mission of sustainability and developing student-driven innovation. March13-14, 2025.

Event Overview and Objectives: The SIC combines a student challenge with a vibrant industry-academic forum, offering students a unique opportunityto present their sustainability projects, receive expert feedback, and network with leaders in academia, industry and local authorities. The event aims to:

• Showcase Projects and Promote Innovation: Provide a highly visible platform for student projects addressing climate and environmental challenges, to present a broad range of technologies and perspectives, and pitch and demonstrate their solutions.
• Facilitate Industry-Academic Exchange for students: Foster cross-disciplinary learning and connections among students, researchers and professionals. Enable networking among students, professionals, and organizations committed to sustainability, thus enhancing access to internships, jobs, and collaborative opportunities.
• Learn and advance the Sustainability Agenda: Hear from leading experts in the field of sustainability about the latest advancements and challenges, while emphasizing the need for immediate action on sustainability by aligning projects with the latest IPCC findings.

 

Categories and Format: Each of the two days will focus separately on the differentcategories “low-tech” and “high-tech”. A panel of esteemed judges, comprisingleading figures from academia and industry, will evaluate the Teams pitches andprojects. Awards, public voting, and post-session networking opportunities willfollow each category presentation.

 

Eligibility and Project Requirements for the Student Teams:

• Teams should consist of at least 65% students (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD candidates).
• Each team should have a minimum of three members (no maximum).

 

Forum and Networking Opportunities: The SIC will alsohost an extensive forum featuring:

• Scientific and Industry Stands: Student teams, companies, and research laboratories will showcase their latest work, facilitating exchanges and potential collaborations.

• Workshops and Demonstrations: Attendees will participate in hands-on workshops, live prototype demonstrations, and networking activities.
• Talks by Leading Experts: Renowned sustainability experts will present critical challenges, new technologies, and recent achievements, creating a dynamic and educational experience.

 

Participation Benefits:

• Prize Funding: CHF 30,000.- will be     split between the winners.
• Mentorship and Learning Opportunities: Teams will have access to mentorship sessions, focusing on refining scientific and practical aspects.
• Networking and Exposure: Gain visibility and connect with potential collaborators and employers from industry and academia. Participants may also access exclusive internships and job opportunities.
• Travel and Accommodation: Selected teams will receive travel and accommodation support for their participation at EPFL

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