Global science company 3M launches the 3M Inspire Challenge, a national case challenge for all undergraduate students from all courses of study in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The call for entries invites student teams to submit their most innovative ideas across three themes: Technology, Sustainability, and Innovation.
The inaugural competition of the 3M Inspire Challenge will run across two stages. The first stage, known as the Country-Level Semi-Finals, will see students face-off against their local peers in a live judging panel on August 24, 2021. The winners of this stage will be crowned with the title of “Country Champion”, awarded a cash prize of USD 1,000, and internships at local 3M offices.
The Country Champion will then proceed to the second stage, known as the Regional-Level Finals, to compete against all the other Country Champions. The winning team will be crowned “Regional Champion” and walk away with a USD 2,000 cash prize.
Throughout the challenge, participants will enjoy access to 3M mentors from diverse backgrounds who will sharpen their ideas in preparation for the Country-Level Semi-Finals and Regional-Level Finals.
“At 3M, science is at the heart of everything we do,” said Kevin McGuigan, managing director, 3M Southeast Asia Region and country leader, Singapore. “We strive to solve today’s challenges by delivering innovative solutions that help improve lives around the world. The 3M Inspire Challenge is therefore here to inspire great ideas in technology, sustainability, and innovation, and support the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and creators.”
Registration now open
Interested participants can now register their groups at The 3M Inspire Challenge website (http://go.3m.com/3minspirechallenge). Groups should consist of two to four students and have at least one male and one female member.
Participants are invited to submit ideas for the three challenge themes: Technology, Sustainability, and Innovation.
Full details of the case themes will be unveiled when submissions open from May 22 to June 21, 2021.
Championing the next generation of talent
The 3M Inspire Challenge is the latest addition to 3M’s diverse ecosystem of community engagements to make a positive impact in the fields of science and education, and champion a diverse talent pipeline. It is 3M’s first standalone challenge targeting undergraduates in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
3M also partners with various organizations such as the Department of Science and Technology and Mano Amiga Academy to provide high-quality STEM educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.
Timeline of challenge
| Date | Activity |
| 23 APR 2021 | Registration opens for The 3M Inspire Challenge |
| 21 MAY 2021 22 MAY 2021 | Registration will close at 11:59 p.m. Challenge theme cases releases and submissions open at 12:00 a.m. on 22 May 2021 |
| 21 JUN 2021 | Submissions close at 11:59 p.m. |
| By 20 JUL 2021 | Shortlisted teams notified to compete in the Country-Level Semi-Finals |
| By 13 AUG 2021 | 3M Mentor sessions with the shortlisted teams (with in-country representatives) |
| 24 AUG 2021 | Round 1 Country-Level Semi-Finals Presentation Challenge Country Champion announcement |
| By 15 SEP 2021 | 3M Mentor sessions with the short-listed teams |
| 21 SEP 2021 | Round 2 Regional-Level Presentation Challenge Regional Champion and runners-up announcement |