Dassault Systèmes Launches 16th Global Design Contest for Students

Dassault Systèmes, a French multinational software company, has announced the commencement of the 16th edition of its international student design and innovation contest, AAKRUTI. This year's competition focuses on four key themes: robotics, local community challenges, healthcare, and mobility. Participants are encouraged to apply engineering principles and design thinking to develop solutions with measurable outcomes, utilizing Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform and SOLIDWORKS software throughout their projects.

"AAKRUTI started with a simple belief that students everywhere have incredible ideas if we give them the right platform, tools and encouragement," stated Suchit Jain, Vice President, Strategy, Dassault Systèmes. He highlighted the competition's growth from a small initiative to a global movement spanning over 37 countries, fostering a platform for young innovators to address real-world problems.

The AAKRUTI competition has significantly increased its rewards for the 2026–27 cycle, offering a $20,000 cash prize pool and SOLIDWORKS licenses for top entries. Beyond the awarded prizes, all participants gain access to Dassault Systèmes’ design ecosystem, which includes software licenses, simulation capabilities on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, and the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications like CSWA and CSWP. The company estimates its annual investment in the program, including certifications, licenses, and awards, to be close to $1 million. In the previous cycle alone, over 2,000 certifications, valued at approximately $396,000, were issued.

Since its inception, AAKRUTI has engaged more than 75,000 students from over 1,000 educational institutions across 37 countries. The competition's relevance to employers is underscored by recent survey data indicating that approximately 500 former participants and winners are now employed by major global organizations. The Global Finale for the current edition will be held at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027 in Nashville, where finalists will present their projects to an international audience.