International student competition leverages digital twin technology to tackle infrastructure challenges.
As the global infrastructure sector faces a critical workforce shortage, Bentley Systems, the infrastructure engineering software company and Enactus, a global nonprofit advancing student innovation and entrepreneurship, have announced the start of the 2025 iTwin4Good Challenge. This international competition empowers university students to develop digital twin solutions to help address global infrastructure challenges.
In recent years, global infrastructure sectors have faced a critical workforce shortage, despite rising demand for better and more resilient infrastructure. For example, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Research Institute reports that 49% of engineering firms face project backlogs of one year or more, while the construction industry is short more than 400,000 workers, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors.
The iTwin4Good Challenge places students on a path to address workforce shortages by combining their passion for social and environmental impact with the power of digital technology. Through skills building and mentorship, the programme brings together global talent to grow a new and diverse pipeline of future infrastructure leaders and solution developers.
Students embark on a six-week programme featuring technical training, mentorship from across Bentley and the opportunity to get certified as an iTwin developer associate. Participants, competing solo or in teams of up to three, will use Bentley’s iTwin platform to create apps that could drive positive environmental or social impact in their communities.
From June to October 2025, students from the US, Germany, Canada, the UK and Ireland (competing jointly) and Brazil will participate in national rounds. Top performers will present their solutions to a panel of industry experts, compete for cash prizes, and advance to a virtual ‘Champions of Champions’ showdown, with the global winner earning the opportunity to attend the Enactus World Cup 2025 in Bangkok.
Chris Bradshaw, chief sustainability and education officer at Bentley Systems, said: “The iTwin4Good Challenge is more than a student competition, it’s a catalyst for change and a strategic investment in the future of infrastructure. By engaging young minds in real-world problem-solving and equipping the next generation with digital twin expertise, we’re cultivating talent capable of addressing both today’s infrastructure needs and tomorrow’s sustainability challenges.”
George Tsiatis, president and CEO, Enactus Global and Resolution Project, added: “This partnership exemplifies what we do best – empowering students to tackle real-world challenges through innovation and entrepreneurship. When young people combine cutting-edge technology with purpose-driven action, they don’t just solve today’s problems, they build the foundation for a more sustainable future.”
This hands-on experience is expected to develop industry-ready professionals who can apply digital twin technology to solve real-world challenges, bridging the gap between academic learning and impactful infrastructure innovation. For a look at the initiative in action, watch the 2024 iTwin4Good Championship final presentations from Kazakhstan.
