3M launches national, undergraduate case challenge.

  3M launched a national case challenge calling all undergraduate students from all courses of study in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam to submit their most innovative ideas to elevate its business across three themes: Technology, Sustainability, and Innovation.

  The 3M Inspire Challenge, the inaugural competition 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 the title of “Country Champion”, awarded a cash prize of US$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 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 also 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.

  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 at least one male and one female member.

  Participants are invited to submit ideas for the three challenge themes: 

• Technology
• Sustainability
• Innovation

  Full details of the case themes will be unveiled when submissions open from May 22 to June 21, 2021.

  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.

Date Activity

• April 23, 2021 - Registration opens for The 3M Inspires Challenge
• May 21 - 22, 2021 - Registration will close at 11:59 P.M. / Challenge theme cases releases and submissions open at 12:00 A.M. on May 22, 2021
• June 21, 2021 - Submissions close at 11:59 P.M.
• July 20, 2021 -  Shortlisted teams notified to compete in the Country-Level Semi-Finals
• August 13, 2021 - 3M Mentor sessions with the shortlisted teams (with in-country representatives)
• August 24, 2021 - Round 1 Country-Level Semi-Finals Presentation Challenge / Country Champion announcement
• September 15, 2021 - 3M Mentor sessions with the shortlisted teams
• September 21, 2021 - Round 2 Regional-Level Presentation Challenge / Regional Champion and runners-up announcement