2014 VALEO INNOVATION CHALLENGE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CONTEST. (€100,000 in Prizes)

Play an active role in automotive innovation: design the product or system that will create smarter & more intuitive cars by 2030 and develop daring solutions that will revolutionize the future.

The contest’s purpose is to recognize an innovative automotive equipment project designed by students from around the world.

To coincide with the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, Valeo is inviting students from engineering, technical and science schools and universities from around the world to take an active role in automotive innovation by designing equipment that will help build smarter and more intuitive cars by 2030. Students from engineering, technical and science schools and universities will have the opportunity to develop daring and revolutionary solutions for the future.

Innovation is a fundamental aspect of Valeo’s identity. The contest serves to demonstrate that research and development are among the Group’s top priorities. This strategy guides the efforts of Valeo’s 9,000 engineers who innovate daily to develop the car of tomorrow.
The Group plans to recruit over 1,000 engineers and technicians per year over the next three years. It therefore aims to educate students about the challenges offered by professions in automotive technology.

Projects will be judged based on the following criteria:

• The idea’s boldness, originality and innovation
• Importance and relevance of the challenge addressed and inclusion of social needs
• Presentation value of the submission
• Mastery of required technical aspects
• Demonstration of feasibility of the project through the mock-up

ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY CONDITIONS

The contest is open to students from engineering, technical and science schools and universities worldwide. Submissions are limited to one per person (same name and same e-mail address).
Teams may be multidisciplinary in nature and include a designer, sociologist, philosopher, urban planner, architect, biologist, etc.
Participants must have permission to travel outside their country of residence. They must also have as at September 2014 passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the awards ceremony (October 2014).
The following individuals are not eligible for the contest:

• Employees of the organizer, its subsidiaries, parents, or any company managed by the same parent, and their childrens.
• Individuals involved in organizing or coordinating the contest and their children.
• Individuals with a conflict of interests.

The 20 projects selected for the prototyping phase will receive funding.

The winning team will receive a grant of €100,000. All entries must be submitted by 8:00 pm CET on February 14, 2014.

Selection criteria:

• The idea’s boldness, originality and innovation (50 %)
• Importance and relevance of the challenge addressed and inclusion of social needs (20%)
• Presentation value of the submission (10%)
• Mastery of required technical aspects (10%)
• Demonstration of feasibility for Phase 2 (10%)

AWARDS
The winning team, in addition to the second- and third- place teams, will be announced and presented with an award at the Paris Motor Show (October 2014).
Reminder: the jury has full discretion and is under no obligation to release its selection criteria. For this reason, no claims concerning the selection process will be accepted. Once the jury makes its selection, the 20 teams will be informed by e-mail of the contest results by October 31, 2014.

HOW TO ENTER

Complete information about the contest as well as the online application form can be found at: www.valeo.com in the valeo-innovation-challenge section: https://valeoinnovationchallenge.valeo.com