Industry Future Challenges • Prepr®: Future-proof Your Skills

The need for skills in digital innovation seemingly increases by the day, is harmful to a company’s bottom line, and erodes our ability to effectively tackle some of society’s most pressing problems.

In response, Prepr has launched a new initiative to create real-world social impact while building the foundation blocks for a sustainable and prosperous global future. Aimed at addressing the digital-innovation skills gap, and creating impactful learning experiences, this year’s focus will look at how businesses within 10 core industries can leverage technology to recover and grow into the future.

A great opportunity to learn new skills, build up your portfolio, network with employers, create social change, and win prizes along the way!

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What is Futur{e} Challenge?

Futur{e} Challenge is a national initiative designed to bring together the public and private sector to join forces and establish innovative programs to address the increasing skills gap facing many industries. Through workshops and an open challenge call, it explores the intersection of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence within 10 key global industries such as Automotive, Food or Energy. #OwnYourFuture by getting involved with an industry you are passionate about, and collaborating with other change makers on real world solutions that create lasting and impactful change!
Start Building Your Future, Today.

Industries

Get started by identifying the industry that aligns with your interest or expertise.

Manufacturing

Automotive

Energy

Healthcare

Environment

Food

Transportation

Hospitality

Retail

Finance

Technology Verticals

As part of the Industry Future Challenge series, we’ve designed 10 interactive Virtual Workshops with key panelists from both the public & private sector as well as a facilitated design thinking sessions to be held between November 4th through March 31st, 2021, All participants will have the opportunity to learn from the expert panelists on the impact of technology on the future of work and learning in each of the 10 industries highlighted above.

AI & ML

Cybersecurity

Smart Cities

Strategy Focus

Recovery

Growth

Key Details & Dates

Length

30 days, recurring monthly

Challenge Workshop Invitations

October 2020 – March 2021

Futur{e} Challenge Timeline

Phase 1

Challenge Workshop Invitations

Phase 2

Host multi-stakeholder Challenge Workshops

Phase 3

Open Call for Concepts

Phase 4

Set timeline for each Industry Challenge

Phase 5

Project Evaluation & Review

Phase 6

The shortlist of winners is released

Why Get Involved

We know that disruptive technologies have the potential to change the types of skills that employers want and need. During this workshop series industry participants can share what they are experiencing, as well as looking to the horizon for how to address the growing skills gap.

STUDENTS

Over $750,000 in awesome prizes & incentives to take your idea to market

Build your portfolio & discover digital career pathways

Create social impact

POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Empower students to become innovative problem solvers

Create remote work-integrated learning experience

Connect students with employers

BUSINESSES

Engage employees to identify challenges and opportunities

Discover new talent

Gain visibility to new industry innovations

Prize Pool

10 Summer Internship placements provided by Prepr

$25,000 in AWS credits**

$5,000 in business support from AWS**

$5,000 in AWS credits for ALL project teams**

$300 in Linux course credits to ALL winning teams

$1,000 in Learn Lab Kits from Prepr

**dependent on company eligibility and net of other AWS Activate credits previously received

Apply to Participate

Our goal is to create meaningful exchanges between public and private sector organizations. Interested in being part of the conversation? Get involved by attending a challenge workshop or be part of the change by supporting the initiative as a sponsor.

Tackle this Challenge

Become a Mentor

Become a Partner

F.A.Q.

Who is the competition open to?

Students who are in University or College whether in a diploma, undergraduate or graduate program, as well as recent graduates.

Startups who have been incorporated for less than 2-years.

Scale-ups who have been incorporated for more than 5-years.

What does the winner receive?

Recognition by Prepr and its network of partners as the winner of the national industry challenge in their respective technology vertical.

Networking with other like-minded problem solvers in your technology vertical and industry of focus.

Co-creation opportunities with the network of partners by invitation.

Access to ongoing support and resources to help with your solution creation and development process.

How do you decide the winners?

Tier 1- Panels of top industry experts, leaders in each technology vertical, as well as evaluation from invited partners who are vested in piloting and implementing solutions to the challenges.

Tier 2- All challenge participants must vote.

What happens to the winning idea?

Students and participants own their projects. Awarded funds will be allocated to the winning team to carry out the solution and continue to build out the project on the Prepr Network with visibility to Prepr Partner Network.