Eligibility: Purdue engineering student teams (ex. Clubs, VIP, EURO) with an engineering faculty advisor(s). Association with a partner organization is not required, but highly recommended.

Seeding Solutions: Applications are due April 8, 2026, by 5:00pm EST.Selected teams will receive up to $2,000 to plant the foundation for their solution by defining the problem, developing AI-enabled approaches, and conducting early testing.

Growing Solutions: The teams selected for Seeding Solutions will compete in the Fall 2026 to receive up to $50,000 to work with an organization to scale up their solution.

Rooted in the Shah Family Global Innovation Lab’s founding mission, the competition aligns real-world needs with Purdue’s research talent to accelerate solutions with AI that can deliver measurable, ethical and sustainable impact.

Click here to Apply to “Seeding Solutions”.

Below are illustrative examples of eligible proposals. Submissions are not limited to these areas:

Early disease detection: AI for low-cost, early identification of conditions such as cancer, tuberculosis, and diabetic retinopathy, particularly in low-resource settings.

Resource allocation for social good: AI to optimize distribution of food, housing, healthcare, and social services, and to predict crop failures or supply chain disruptions.

Disaster response: AI analysis of satellite imagery and social media to assess damage and coordinate rapid disaster relief.

Learning, education, and workforce development: Adaptive AI tutors, accessibility and translation tools, and platforms that connect displaced workers to reskilling pathways.

Secure and safe energy: AI solutions to improve energy efficiency, battery life, agricultural machinery use, and irrigation systems.

Democracy and governance: AI solutions to impact democracy, including elections, citizen deliberation, government services, and social cohesion.

Thank you for your interest in the competition.
Questions can be directed to GEP@purdue.edu.