Exciting news! If you are already familiar with the MTConnect Student Challenge, we are happy to announce the deadline has been extended! If not, let us fill you in.
What is MTConnect?
MTConnect is the communication standard of choice for the manufacturing industry—it is the way industrial equipment delivers data from the shop floor. Because different shops use a variety of different types of equipment, in order to deliver uniform data, it is important to have a communication standard— which is where MTConnect comes in. With a communication standard providing uniform information, it makes for more efficient operations, improved production optimization, and increased productivity.
What is the MT Connect Challenge?
The main goal of the MTConnect Student Challenge is to develop innovative manufacturing intelligence using data acquired with the MTConnect standard. There are two separate aspects to the challenge. The first part is the “Idea Creation” challenge, the objective of which is for students to identify a need in manufacturing intelligence and build a business case for the proposed solution. The “Application Development” challenge is a separate competition, the aim of which is for students to create advanced manufacturing intelligence application solutions “which are innovative and deployable, utilizing data acquired via the MTConnect standard.”
Great ideas will be rewarded! Prizes for the MTConnect “Idea Creation” Challenge will total $10,500—$5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second place, and $1,000 each for three runners up; and the “Application Development” challenge prizes will total $22,500.00.

Check out videos of last year’s winners presenting their bright ideas at McCormick Place on our Instagram: @imts_summit
Who is eligible to participate?
All college students! It does not matter if you are in a two year, four year, or graduate program. Also, please note that participation in the “Idea Creation” challenge is not a prerequisite for participation in the “Application Development” challenge.”
As we mentioned above, the submission period for the “Idea Challenge” has been extended to 12/15/2015, and the deadline for the “Application Development” will be 1/31/2016. Judging will also take place later (1/11/16), with winners announced on 2/5/16.
Read competition rules here and be sure to follow @ChallengeGov on Twitter to stay tuned for info and updates on the challenge!
Categories: Smartforce
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