The Siemens Immersive Design Challenge was a global competition that attracted 900 participants from over 230 universities across 38 countries. The challenge aimed to encourage students to combine sustainable design principles and immersive engineering technology to solve real-world problems. The competition consisted of three rounds, with the first round testing students’ understanding of immersive engineering and their ideas for sustainable design. The second round shortlisted 40 teams, who were then mentored by Siemens experts to further develop their concepts.
The finalists were given access to Siemens’ NX Immersive Designer software and Sony’s XR head-mounted display to bring their ideas to life. They presented their projects to a jury comprising representatives from Siemens, university professors, and Sony. The jury evaluated the projects based on innovation, sustainability impact, and other factors. The winning team, NextCycle from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany, presented a project called “BatteryTwin XR: an Integrated Digital Twin for a Sustainable EV Battery Lifecycle.” The team’s leader, Suavi Yildirim, expressed his excitement about the win and the opportunity to refine their solution for real-world implementation.
As the winner, NextCycle has been invited to participate in Siemens’ Realize Live event in Amsterdam, which takes place from June 30 to July 2. The team will also receive a Sony XR headset and a one-year license for Siemens NX Immersive Designer. The competition demonstrates the potential of immersive engineering to drive sustainable innovation and solve global challenges. By providing students with access to cutting-edge technology and mentorship, Siemens aims to foster a new generation of engineers and designers who can create innovative solutions for a more sustainable future. The success of the challenge highlights the importance of collaboration and creativity in addressing the world’s most pressing problems.