Deadline: 31-May-2026
The AAKRUTI Innovation Competition is a student design and innovation challenge that invites undergraduate students to turn ideas into practical, technology-driven solutions for real-world problems. In its 16th edition, the competition focuses on Robotics, Local Community Problems, Healthcare Innovation, and Mobility, offering global exposure, expert mentorship, advanced design tools, and a total prize pool of $15,000, with finalists advancing to the Grand Finale at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027 in the United States.
Overview
The AAKRUTI Innovation Competition is a student-focused design and innovation competition that encourages participants to solve real-world challenges through technology, creativity, and engineering skills.
The competition gives students a chance to build meaningful and scalable solutions while gaining hands-on experience, mentorship, and international visibility.
In its 16th edition, AAKRUTI introduces updated themes that reflect both current social challenges and future technologies, making it a strong opportunity for students who want to combine innovation with practical impact.
Key Details
- Programme Name: AAKRUTI Innovation Competition
- Edition: 16th edition
- Target Group: Undergraduate students
- Competition Type: Student design and innovation competition
- Main Goal: Create practical solutions for real-world challenges
- Grand Finale Venue: 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027, United States
- Total Prize Pool: $15,000
Focus Areas
The competition encourages students to build solutions under key innovation themes.
These include:
- Robotics
- Local Community Problems
- Healthcare Innovation
- Mobility
These themes are designed to help students create products and solutions that respond to both global trends and societal needs.
Purpose of the Competition
AAKRUTI is designed to help students:
- Apply engineering and design skills
- Strengthen creativity and innovation
- Solve practical real-world problems
- Build impactful and scalable products
- Gain experience in product development
- Improve presentation, teamwork, and critical thinking
It is especially valuable for students who want to turn academic knowledge into real-world applications.
What Participants Gain
The competition offers more than just prize money.
Learning and Skill Development
Participants benefit from:
- Hands-on learning
- Real-world problem-solving experience
- Exposure to product design and innovation workflows
- Stronger teamwork and collaboration
- Improved presentation and pitching skills
- Better critical thinking and technical application
Global Exposure
Students also gain:
- Opportunity to compete with talented students on an international platform
- Visibility through official competition and partner platforms
- Recognition at the Grand Finale in the United States for selected teams
This can be especially useful for students looking to strengthen their portfolio, CV, or career prospects.
Grand Finale Opportunity
Selected teams advance to the Grand Finale at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027 in the United States.
This stage offers:
- International exposure
- Recognition before a wider audience
- Additional visibility for top ideas
- A strong platform to showcase innovation globally
For many students, this is one of the most valuable parts of the competition.
Tools and Mentorship Support
AAKRUTI strongly emphasizes hands-on innovation and digital design learning.
Participants receive:
- A one-year SOLIDWORKS student license
- Access to cloud-based CAD applications
- Compatibility across desktop and mobile devices
- Technical support from Dassault Systèmes experts
- Guidance throughout the competition process
This support helps students move from concept to workable design using professional tools.
Prize Pool and Awards
The competition offers a total prize pool of $15,000.
Main Awards
- 1st Place: $2,500
- 2nd Place: $1,200
- 3rd Place: $1,000
Special Awards
- Best All-Girls Team: $800
- Encouragement Prize: $500
Additional Recognition
Top-performing teams may also receive:
- Certificates
- Exclusive goodies
- Global recognition through official platforms
This makes the competition rewarding both financially and professionally.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to undergraduate students from a wide range of disciplines.
Eligible Fields
Students may come from:
- Engineering
- Design
- Architecture
- Medicine
- Management
- Social Sciences
This interdisciplinary approach encourages broader innovation and diverse team thinking.
Team Requirements
Each participating team must include:
- 4 students
- 1 teacher
This structure supports collaborative work while ensuring academic guidance and mentorship.
Inclusivity Feature
The competition includes a special prize category for all-girls teams.
This is intended to:
- Encourage greater participation by women students
- Promote inclusivity in innovation and design
- Recognise strong all-girls teams through a dedicated award
Why This Competition Stands Out
AAKRUTI stands out because it combines:
- Real-world problem solving
- Engineering and design application
- Professional software access
- Expert technical support
- International exposure
- A pathway to a global finale
- Cash awards and recognition
For undergraduate students, it offers both practical innovation experience and a strong career-building opportunity.
Best Fit Participants
This competition is especially suitable for:
- Student innovators
- Engineering and design students
- Interdisciplinary undergraduate teams
- Students interested in product development
- Teams solving community or healthcare problems
- Students building portfolio-ready innovation projects
Strong teams will usually have:
- A clear and practical problem statement
- A solution aligned with one of the competition themes
- Strong teamwork and presentation ability
- A product idea that is innovative and scalable
- Willingness to use design tools effectively
FAQs
What is the AAKRUTI Innovation Competition?
It is a student design and innovation competition where undergraduate students create practical solutions to real-world problems using technology and creativity.
What are the focus areas?
The competition themes include:
- Robotics
- Local Community Problems
- Healthcare Innovation
- Mobility
Who can participate?
It is open to undergraduate students from fields such as:
- Engineering
- Design
- Architecture
- Medicine
- Management
- Social Sciences
What is the team size?
Each team must have:
- 4 students
- 1 teacher
What tools do participants receive?
Students receive:
- A one-year SOLIDWORKS student license
- Access to cloud-based CAD applications
- Support from Dassault Systèmes experts
What is the total prize pool?
The competition offers a total prize pool of $15,000.
Is there a special award for all-girls teams?
Yes. There is a Best All-Girls Team award of $800.
What happens if a team is selected?
Selected teams advance to the Grand Finale at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027 in the United States.
Final Takeaway
The AAKRUTI Innovation Competition is a strong opportunity for undergraduate students who want to turn ideas into practical, technology-based solutions for real-world challenges.
With professional design tools, expert mentorship, international exposure, a global finale opportunity, and a $15,000 prize pool, the competition is especially valuable for students looking to build innovation experience, strengthen their career profile, and showcase impactful solutions on a global stage.
For more information, visit SolidWorks Corporation.