Dassault Systèmes Crowns South African Team Winner in 2026 AAKRUTI Student Design Competition
Event summary
- Dassault Systèmes announced the winners of its 2026 AAKRUTI international student design competition at 3DEXPERIENCE World in Houston on February 4, 2026.
- Team UJ Wom+n in Tech from the University of Johannesburg won for Latch, a pedal-powered breast pump with a universal bottle-fitting system.
- Twelve teams from universities in 9 countries participated, developing sustainable solutions in healthcare, mobility, and green energy.
- Cash prizes totaled $10,000, with all participants receiving a one-year SOLIDWORKS license.
- The competition has expanded to 37 countries since its launch in India in 2011, engaging over 55,000 students.
The big picture
Dassault Systèmes' AAKRUTI competition underscores the company's commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators in sustainable technology. The event aligns with broader industry trends toward integrating sustainability into engineering education and highlights Dassault Systèmes' strategic focus on talent development. With over 55,000 students engaged since its inception, the competition serves as a significant pipeline for future workforce skills in design and engineering.
What we're watching
- Global Expansion
- Whether Dassault Systèmes can sustain the international growth of the AAKRUTI competition while maintaining its focus on sustainable innovation.
- Talent Pipeline
- How the competition's emphasis on workforce skills will impact the future talent pool for Dassault Systèmes and its partners.
- Sustainable Innovation
- The pace at which student-driven sustainable solutions will translate into commercial products within Dassault Systèmes' ecosystem.
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