The 2024 Ingenium Innovation Challenge
Are you passionate about tackling hard problems? Looking for ways to do your part in creating a better future?
Pool your talent and creativity with the next generation of innovators to inspire change, and take action!
Transcript
Audio | Visual |
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Upbeat music plays in the background. "The Ingenium Innovation Challenge is back! 3 days, 72 hours, 1 winning team." |
Hyperspeed footage from the Ingenium Innovation Challenge 2023 |
"Develop your skills, network with industry professionals, and showcase your work on a national stage." |
Various challenge participants present their ideas in front of a large projector screen. |
"Up for grabs: the chance to transform your big idea into a marketable product through a dedicated grant and mentorship guidance from our team of experts." |
Groups of participants working throughout the first floor of the Ingenium Centre. Some groups are being mentored by industry experts. |
"Join Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, May 3 through 5, 2024." |
The 2023 winning team stands at the front of the room as everyone applauds. They are holding a big cheque. Ingenium logo and Canada wordmark fades to white. |
The theme: Clean water and sanitation
Currently over half the world’s population does not have access to safe sanitation facilities, causing unnecessary disease and death. In Canada, over 28 First Nations communities do not have access to clean, treated water. Ensuring sustainable management of water and sanitation services is critical and requires meaningful action, unconventional thinking and bold courage.
That’s why we invite you to take part in Ingenium’s Innovation Challenge in May 2024!
On this page
- When and where
- The challenge
- How to participate
- Prizes
- Timeline
- Application
- Programming
- Partners and Collaborators
- Past editions
When and where
The event will be taking place May 3-5, 2024.
The challenge
Ingenium’s 2024 Innovation Challenge will be bringing together young adults early in their career aged 18-35 to build a digital prototype to help inspire positive solutions to mitigate the disparities many face around clean water and sanitation – in Canada, and globally. The product should be designed to enable young Canadians aged 9-12 (grades 4-7) to better understand how their actions affect wastewater systems, and help them find ways to contribute to sustainable water and sanitation habits, leading to positive action.
Participants are invited to compete in teams to raise awareness about the topic of clean water and sanitation, but more importantly, to inspire action that leads to meaningful change. How will you do this? By developing a digital prototype over a period of 72 hours. Over the course of the weekend, teams will draw inspiration from the Ingenium collection, workshops led by experts, and one-on-one guidance from industry professionals.
How to participate
In-person
Local participants will have the opportunity to participate in-person at the state-of-the-art Digital Innovation Lab within the Ingenium Centre, in Ottawa, ON. Participants joining in person will be responsible for their own transport and lodgings.
Prizes
The winning team will be awarded $2,500 in addition to a grant, in-kind funding, and mentorship guidance for the development of their proof-of-concept prototype into a marketable product for use by the general public.
Other prizes will also be awarded during the event including a Blue Futures Pathways Expedition, equivalent to $15,000!
Timeline
April 22, 2024: Deadline to apply
May 3, 2024: Innovation Challenge kicks off, with livestreamed keynote and panel discussion
May 4, 2024: Innovation Challenge continues
May 5, 2024: Final day of Innovation Challenge: Pitches and award ceremony (livestreamed)
June 2024 - March 2025: Product development: Winning team works with experts from Ingenium and its partners to further develop their proof-of-concept prototype into a marketable product for the general public.
Application
Participants must self-organize into teams of three to five and the Team Lead must apply on behalf of their team. The application deadline has been extended to 11:59pm April 22nd, 2024. More details on application process below.
Diversity and inclusion
Ingenium strongly believes that inclusivity requires social and cultural diversity. This will be achieved by increasing equity group representation (including persons with disabilities, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, those who represent gender diversity, and women) as part of all our initiatives. We encourage individuals who belong to one or more of the equity-deserving groups mentioned above to self-identify. This information will not be shared with other participants.
Are you up for the challenge?
Programming
Throughout the weekend, participants will benefit from a variety of programming.
May 3
Downstream Networking will give participants an opportunity to meet water industry professionals to cultivate an inclusive, diverse, and thriving water sector
Keynote given by Autumn Peltier, renowned International Indigenous rights and water advocate
Panel Discussion by various experts from private and public sectors moderated by Corrine Lynds from Water Canada
A Collection Tour of behind the scenes water-related artifacts led by Ingenium Curators
May 4
Mentoring from experts in the fields of programming, digital accessibility, design, and more.
May 5
Pitching will be live broadcasted.
Documentary Screening of The Water Walker produced by Seeing Red Media.
Awards Ceremony featuring the announcement of the Blue Futures Pathways Expedition winner, special prize winners, and the grand prize winning team.
Keynote: Autumn Peltier
Peltier's journey for justice has made waves around the globe. She's been a featured speaker at The World Economic Forum, is a regular guest speaker at The United Nations, and was the 2022 runner up for International Children’s Peace Prize. Peltier's documentary “The Water Walker” was released on HBO Canada and will be streamed as part of the programming for the weekend.
Panelists
Moderator: Corinne Lynds, Actual Media VP of Content & Partnerships
Patrick Kiely, SENTRY CEO and Founder
Layla Staats, Activist, Film Maker, Musician
Karissa Aubie, ECCC Acting Manager of the Wastewater Program
Jose Torcal, Civil Engineer with focus on Sustainability and Public Space through Water
Contact:
If you can’t find the answer to your question, don’t hesitate to reach out by email to our Ingenium Innovation Challenge team.
About the Ingenium Digital Innovation Lab
The Digital Innovation (DI) Lab is a collaborative hub for exploring innovative ways to improve access to museums spaces, collections, and experiences for all Canadians. Working with academia, start-ups, visitor-serving industries, and the accessibility community, the DI Lab explores emerging technologies, user experience and accessible design to create more inclusive experiences for everyone.