Otis Crowns Student Teams from Greece and Hong Kong as Co-Champions in 2026 Natural Disaster Tech Challenge
Event summary
- Student teams from Athens, Greece, and Hong Kong SAR won Otis' 2026 Made to Move Communities™ Challenge with AI-driven disaster response solutions.
- The Greek team developed an AI-enabled container for flood risk alerts, while the Hong Kong team created an AR system for first responders in low-visibility situations.
- Each winning school received a $35,000 grant for STEM education.
- Over 200 students from 18 schools across 14 countries participated in this year's challenge.
The big picture
Otis' annual challenge underscores the growing intersection of STEM education and real-world problem-solving, particularly in disaster-prone regions. The focus on natural disasters aligns with increasing global frequency and severity of such events, positioning Otis as a thought leader in mobility solutions for crisis scenarios. The program also serves as a talent pipeline, fostering future innovators who may eventually contribute to Otis' workforce.
What we're watching
- Technology Integration
- How Otis will leverage these student-developed concepts in its broader disaster response and mobility solutions.
- STEM Pipeline
- Whether the $35,000 grants will translate into long-term talent acquisition for Otis from these participating schools.
- Disaster Preparedness
- The pace at which AI and AR technologies will be adopted by first responders and emergency management agencies globally.
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