Calling all UQ students—become a catalyst for change!
Join our 2024 Ventures Industry Challenge and tackle the complex issues affecting our oceans – open to UQ students across all disciplines.
In collaboration with our innovation partners, Port of Brisbane, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Ocean Impact Organisation, Orchid Energy, and UQ Centre for Marine Science, develop real-world solutions to a real-world challenge.
This year's challenge focuses on ocean innovation and empowers you to create solutions for some of the most pressing issues impacting our oceans today. Teams will compete for multiple prizes worth $11,000.
Key dates
Information and find your team session. Tuesday 30 July 2024
Registration close. Friday 2 August 2024
Kick-off session. Tuesday 6 August 2024
Submit your video pitch. Tuesday 1 October 2024
Pitch event. Tuesday 15 October 2024
Challenges
How might we improve the health of Australia’s coastal and ocean ecosystems for sustainable environmental, social and economic benefit?
Water quality
How might we improve water quality (i.e. reduce sedimentation and nutrients) in Australian coastal areas (such as Moreton Bay) to protect wildlife and increase biodiversity?
Plastics and pollution
How might we prevent plastics and other pollutants from entering Australia’s water ways and remove existing pollutants?
Sustainable use
How might we create sustainable practises for industrial and recreational use of the oceans, including fishing, transport and freight, energy generation, mining, and tourism?
Climate resilience
How might we support climate change resilience in Queensland coastal environments?
Why ocean innovation?
Our oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface, regulating climate, supporting biodiversity, and providing essential resources like food and oxygen. The health of our oceans is crucial for the health of our planet. This challenge empowers you to create solutions for some of the most pressing issues impacting our oceans today.
How does the Challenge work?
To register for the Industry Challenge, you need to form a team with other students. Teams must have a minimum of 2 students and a maximum of 5. We encourage you to form multi-disciplinary teams with students from other study areas.
Over 8 weeks you will be supported by Ventures staff, industry partners and mentors to explore a problem impacting ocean health and create an innovative solution.
At the end of the program teams will submit a video pitch for their solution. An industry selection panel will review the video submissions and choose 5 teams to pitch in the final Pitch Showcase event on Tuesday 22 October to compete for a share of $11,000 in prizes.
In collaboration with industry partners
Funding partner
Supporting partners
UQ Centre for Marine Science
Why participate
- Collaborate across disciplines: All disciplines for UQ are encouraged to participate. Whether you’re studying engineering, science, business, law, health, social sciences, or the arts, your unique perspective is invaluable.
- Real-world impact: Work alongside industry partners to develop innovative solutions to real-world ocean challenges.
- Win big: Compete for a share of $11,000 in prizes.
Prizes
All shortlisted teams have an opportunity to present their solution for a share of $11,000 in cash prizes.
Winning team: $5,000 cash
Second place: $3,000 cash
Third place: $2,000 cash
People's Choice Award: $1,000 cash
Program overview
Kick-off Session: Tuesday 6 August, 9-11am
Design Thinking Workshop: Tuesday 13 August, 9-10:30am
Check-in Session 1 with industry mentors: Tuesday 20 August, 9-11am
Check-in Session 2 with industry mentors: Tuesday 3 September, 9-11am
Pitching Workshop: Tuesday 10 September, 9-10:30am
Check-in Session 3 with industry mentors: Tuesday 17 September, 9-11am
Pitch Video Submissions Due: Tuesday 1 October, 12pm
Industry Challenge Pitch Showcase: Tuesday 15 October, 5:30-8:30pm
Support available
Check out the support available for your teams as you progress through the challenge.
Judging criteria
- Value proposition (30%) – how well does the proposed solution meet a need and deliver benefits? Outline the value proposition, i.e.: who will be the beneficiaries, what benefits will be generated by the solution, and how will the benefits be validated?
- Solution Viability (30%) – demonstrate how the proposed solution is feasible in terms of resources required for successful development and implementation. Identify and address any financial, technology, legal, market or other issues and how they could be overcome to enable this innovation to be further developed and implemented.
- Level of innovation (30%) – present a design concept, minimal viable product or prototype and outline why this a new or significantly different approach to what is already available.
- Presentation (10%) – to what extent does the pitch tell a succinct, yet detailed and compelling proposal to take action and support the proposed solution?
Have a question?
For more information about the Ventures Industry Challenge, please contact Ventures.