ELIGIBILITY AND JUDGING CRITERIA
ELIGIBILITY & MECHANICS
- Student Status: Participants must be undergraduate students aged 18–24 enrolled in a recognized university, college, or technical institution at the time of registration
- Multi-Disciplinary Teams: Each team is strongly encouraged to be multidisciplinary, combining expertise from engineering, business, environmental sciences, technology, and related fields
- Team Formation:
- Teams are to be made up to 1-5 students from the same university or educational institution.
- Each team must be supported by a faculty or academic mentor from the same institution, responsible for academic guidance throughout the programme
- Each team must nominate a team leader responsible for coordination, communication, and submission management
- Team Registration: Teams must complete the online registration process, including submitting all required documentation and agreeing to the competition rules and guidelines.
- Project Concept and Solution: All submissions must be student-led, original in execution for this Challenge cycle, and developed specifically for the Race to Zero Challenge submission. Teams may build on existing ideas or previously developed academic/competition projects, provided they are significantly enhanced, refined, or adapted for this Challenge. Projects that are commercially deployed, fully
- Judging Criteria: Prototypes will be evaluated based on innovation, feasibility, impact on sustainable energy, scalability, and presentation quality.
- Challenge Stages and Mechanics:
- Stage 1: Call for Project Ideas and Submission of Detailed Project Proposals: Participants are required to submit their project ideas outlining the proposed solution, objectives, and anticipated impact. Teams are required to submit a detailed project proposal outlining the problem statement, executive summary, technical/prototype design, business model or impact plan.
- Stage 2: Submission of Project Prototype: Up to 15 teams selected by the jury will proceed to the development phase, where they will create working prototypes of their proposed solutions. This phase includes regular progress updates and milestone submissions.
- Stage 3: Project Showcase/Exhibition: Top 6 semi-finalists will be selected to exhibit their project at the EGYPES Young Professionals stand on 29 – 31 March 2027 to stand visitors and participants.
- Stage 4: Project Presentation on stage: The Top 6 semi-finalists will earn the opportunity to present their projects live on a dedicated pod and on stage, presenting their solutions to all visitors and pitching to a distinguished jury panel and industry leaders.
- Stage 5: Awards & Recognition: Top 3 winning teams will be recognized on the program's closing ceremony on 31 March 2027 to be held at the Young Professionals stand.
- Prototype: Participants must submit a tangible, functional prototype—such as a physical model, working device, or interactive demo—that clearly demonstrates the core concept and usability of their solution for live showcase during the main event
- Commitment: Teams must commit to participating in all phases of the competition including progress updates, and the final presentation/exhibition.
- Disqualification: Failure to comply with the competition requirements, eligibility criteria, or submission guidelines may result in disqualification at any stage of the competition.
JUDGING CRITERIA
| CRITERIA | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Innovation and Creativity |
Assess the originality and inventiveness of the project. How novel is the solution compared to existing technologies or methods? |
| Technical Feasibility and Robustness |
Evaluate the technical soundness of the prototype. How well does the project demonstrate engineering principles and reliability? |
| Impact on Sustainability and Environment |
Measure the project's potential to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact. Does it contribute significantly to clean energy and sustainability goals? |
| Scalability and Replicability |
Determine the potential for the project to be scaled up or replicated in other settings. Is the solution adaptable to different urban environments? |
| Cost-Effectiveness and Affordability |
Assess the economic viability of the project. Are the initial costs reasonable, and does the project offer long-term cost savings? |
| User-Friendliness and Accessibility |
Consider the ease of use and accessibility for the target population. Is the solution user-friendly and inclusive? |
| Implementation and Testing Quality |
Evaluate the quality of prototype development and the rigor of testing. Were results reliable, and was the implementation process well-documented? |
| Community Engagement and Social Impact |
Assess the level of community involvement and the project's potential social benefits. Does the project address the needs of the community effectively? |
| Presentation and Communication |
Measure the clarity, organization, and professionalism of the project presentation. Were visual aids, documentation, and communication effective? |
| Interdisciplinary Collaboration |
Evaluate the integration of knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines. Was the project developed through effective teamwork across different fields? |
I confirm that I have read and understood the eligibility criteria, terms, and conditions of the Race to Zero Challenge, and we agree to comply with them as part of our application.
