Siemens and Sony are challenging students worldwide to imagine sustainable design with immersive engineering

In a bold move to inspire the next generation of engineers and innovators, Siemens have officially launched the Immersive Design Challenge. Running from October 2024 to February 2025, the challenge offers students worldwide the opportunity to explore cutting-edge immersive engineering technology, and to imagine a future where sustainable design takes center stage.

At Siemens, we believe the future of engineering lies in empowering the workforce of the future across our industries to think beyond traditional methods. The Immersive Design Challenge aims to do just that – equip students with the tools, technology, and creative freedom to solve real-world problems using immersive engineering.

With registrations now open, students across the globe are encouraged to sign up and take part in an experience that promises to shape not only their careers but the future of sustainable and immersive design.

If you are at a university or part of a student organization and would like to promote the challenge to your students or members, send us an email to siemens@campus-relations.com and we will send you a communication toolkit, or share the link to this page.

Keep reading to learn more about immersive engineering, how the Immersive Design Challenge works, and how you can get involved in this exciting initiative.

What is immersive engineering?

Immersive engineering combines the real and digital worlds allowing you to experience 3D CAD in the industrial metaverse. The combination of Siemens’ software and Sony’s unique XR head-mounted display provides the most natural and intuitive way to create and experience the digital twin of your product or process. Understand how this works in industry today right here.

Immersive engineering is already making waves across various industries. Here are just a few examples:

1. Aerospace: Engineers at Natilus interact with 3D models next to their monitors and make real-time changes before committing to a prototype. This technology also allows non-technical stakeholders to engage in the decision and review process.
2. Manufacturing: Engineers can create the layout of an entire factory in a virtual space or visualize a full-scale product to ensure it fits within the environment before physical production starts.
3. Automotive: Designers from different locations – like the UK and Germany – can collaborate on the same product, make live changes, and even show the finished product to customers before it’s physically built.

This technology helps to reduce costs, speeds up decision-making, and offers customers a virtual experience of products before it even exists.

The Immersive Design Challenge: how would you use immersive design to make a product of your choice more sustainable?

We are challenging teams of students to imagine how would they use immersive design, to make a product of their choice more sustainable.

The challenge is open to bachelor’s, master’s or PhD students from any discipline, enrolled thru March 2025. Teams should comprise three to five students with at least one team member experienced in CAD / NX to create a successful entry.

The challenge is structured into three rounds:

Round one of the challenge consists of just five short questions about immersive engineering and the product or idea.

In Round two, a visualization or prototype will be needed.

And to get to the final participants will need to show us how they’ve integrated sustainability into their product or idea, and that they’ve understood how to use the Sony XR head-mounted display and NX Immersive Designer in the most creative way possible.

The finalist teams will work with NX Immersive Designer & the Sony XR head-mounted display to bring their idea to life in state-of-the-art 3D design and show it off to an expert jury.

The Siemens Immersive Design Challenge offers more than just a chance to showcase innovative ideas. By participating, students can:

• Learn from global experts: Participants will gain valuable insights from leading professionals in digital design and sustainability.
• Enhance employability & digital skill set: The challenge provides hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools from Siemens and Sony and the opportunity to develop essential professional skills such as teamwork and communication, helping to kickstart future careers.
• Network with industry leaders: By engaging with Siemens and Sony, students can expand their professional network.
• Be part of a global community: Students will join a vibrant global network of design enthusiasts, all working towards more sustainable design.
• Bring their ideas to life: Teams will have the opportunity to use the award-winning NX software to visualize their ideas.

Alongside the great learning and networking opportunities the participants will be in with a chance to win a range of great prizes, as well as a Sony XR head-mounted display for their campus!

Get involved!

Are you ready to take on the Immersive Design Challenge? Visit www.immersive-design-challenge.com to find out more and register.

Key dates

• October 15, 2024: Official launch during NX Student Day 2024
• December 20, 2024: Round 1 deadline
• January 2025: Round 2
• End February 2025: Final

This challenge is your chance to make a difference with your ideas, gain valuable experience, and get recognized by industry leaders. Siemens is excited to see how the workforce of the future will use immersive engineering to create a more sustainable world.

Don’t miss out – register today and start your journey in immersive design!