Registrations for Valeo’s 2017 Innovation Challenge have hit a new high. As many as 158 teams from 35 countries have already registered for the contest. And there is still a month to go before registration closes.

This year's challenge comes with a new option: the possibility of including a teacher on the competing team. The rules otherwise are the same as in previous years. Students from all disciplines are invited to enter, in teams of two to five people. The teams must sign up on the contest website https://valeoinnovationchallenge.valeo.com in one of the two available categories: ‘Technological Innovation’ or ‘Idea for new ways of using cars’. The contesting teams have to come up with the innovation or idea that will make cars smarter, cleaner, more fun and more intuitive by 2030.

Winning team to join Valeo-partnered start-up accelerator

In each of the two categories, the winning team will take home a grand prize of 100,000 euros (Rs 76.44 lakh) and the second-place team a prize of 10,000 euros (Rs 7.64 lakh). Furthermore, in addition to the 100,000 euros in prize money, the winning team in the ‘Technological Innovation’ category will, for the first time ever, have an opportunity to join a Valeo-partnered start-up accelerator to develop their project in a dedicated environment in contact with other start-ups.

Students are being challenged to venture off the beaten track, break down traditional barriers in the automotive industry and take a fresh look at conventional car practices, in the city, in the suburbs and on the highway, to re-imagine tomorrow's mobility solutions. For further details on the contest, https://valeoinnovationchallenge.valeo.com.

January 31, 2017: Registration deadline

March 17, 2017: 24 semi-finalist teams announced

March 17-July 7, 2017: Project’s development (each team given 5,000 euros)

September 13, 2017: Eight finalist teams announced

October 2017: Projects presented to the panel and winners announced