NFTEC Supercluster Challenge
As part of Canadian Innovation Week , the Network Fostering Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs Canada (NFTEC) is inviting youth across Canada to participate in the Canadian Supercluster Challenges, an exciting online innovation competition designed to inspire creativity, entrepreneurship, and future-focused problem solving.
CHALLENGES
Digital Technology
Focus: Equity & Accessibility
Create a simple business idea that uses technology to help make life easier, fairer, or more accessible for people in your community.
Protein Industries
Focus: Future Food Innovation
Create a business idea connected to healthy food, farming, or sustainable protein products that could improve the future of food in Canada.
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced Manufacturing
Focus: Building the Future
Create a business idea involving robotics, machines, design, or new technology used to make products faster, smarter, or more efficiently.
Scale AI
Canada's Five Clusters
Advanced Manufacturing
Focus: AI & Smart Solutions
Create a business idea that uses artificial intelligence or technology to solve everyday problems, improve delivery systems, or make businesses more efficient.
Ocean
Canada's Five Clusters
Canada's Five Clusters
Focus: Protecting Our Oceans
Create a business idea that helps reduce pollution, protect marine life, or support cleaner and healthier oceans.
Canada's Five Clusters
Canada's Five Clusters
Canada's Five Clusters
Clusters encourage industry leaders, small and medium-sized companies, and post-secondary institutions to collaborate on large-scale projects in order to accelerate growth in some of Canada's most promising industries.
Challenge Details
Competition Overview
The Canadian Supercluster Challenges provide young innovators with an opportunity to explore real-world industries and develop entrepreneurial ideas connected to Canada’s leading innovation sectors. Participants will create a mock business concept and showcase their ideas through visual storytelling and strategic thinking.
Competition Dates
- Start Date: May 12th at 9:00 AM
- End Date: May 15th at 11:59 PM
Competition Format
Fully online competition
- Participants may select 1 of 5 Superclusters to compete in
(participants may choose to enter more than one cluster) - Each participant must submit to info@nftec.ca :
- 1 Promotional Poster
(advertising and selling their mock business idea) - 1 Infographic
(explaining the overall business model and concept) - 1 winner will be selected from each cluster
Eligibility Requirements
Participants must:
- Be between the ages of 14 and 17
- Be a Canadian citizen
- Participate as an individual entrant
Prizes
Each Supercluster category winner will receive:
- $50 Amazon/Best Buy Gift Card Prize
In addition to prizes, participants gain valuable experience in:
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation strategy
- Business communication
- Creative problem solving
- Design thinking
Evaluation Process
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of NFTEC judges following the competition deadline.
Judging criteria include:
- Creativity and innovation
- Clarity of business concept
- Visual presentation
- Market relevance
- Overall impact and feasibility
Winner Notification
- Winners will be contacted directly via email after the competition concludes.
Submission Details
To participate in the CIW–NFTEC Superclusters Challenge, participants must submit the following information and materials by May 15th at 11:59 PM.
Email Subject Line
Please use the following subject line format:
CIW-NFTEC Superclusters Challenge – [Challenge Name]
Example: CIW-NFTEC Superclusters Challenge – Scale AI
Required Submission Information
Participants must include:
- Parent/Guardian or Educator's Email Address
- Participant Information
- Full Name and Parent/Guardian or Educator's full name
- Confirmation that you are between the ages of 14–17
- Province/Territory in Canada
- Challenge Selection
Please identify which Supercluster Challenge you are participating in:
- Digital Technology
- Protein Industries
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Scale AI
- Ocean
- Project Submission
- 1 Poster promoting your mock business idea
- 1 Infographic explaining your business model
Disclaimer
By submitting an entry, participants confirm that:
- All work submitted is original and created by the participant
- Participants meet the eligibility requirements of the competition
- NFTEC has permission to showcase submitted projects, participant names, and winning entries for educational and promotional purposes
- Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered for judging
NFTEC reserves the right to disqualify submissions that do not follow competition guidelines or contain inappropriate content.
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