The 2023-2024 Conrad Global Competition ushered in an unprecedented wave of participation, attracting more than 3,400 students from more than 50 countries to actively participate. It is particularly worth mentioning that this year, Conrad China brought together more than 150 teams from all over the country, with a total of nearly 500 contestants, which also reached a record high.

Conrad2023-24 Global Finals Perfect ending

Cross-border innovative display shines on the stage of Conrad finals

From April 23 to 26, Central Time in the United States, the opening ceremony of the Conrad Innovators Conference and Houston Global Finals was held grandly at the Southport Hotel in Houston. In these four days of fierce competition, players from all over the world demonstrated outstanding teamwork and innovation capabilities. They work together across cultural and national boundaries to solve innovation challenges and show the world the courage and determination of a new generation of "innovators & entrepreneurs".

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During the finals, in addition to exciting competitions, there are also a variety of activities, such as seminars, tours, community exchanges, keynote speeches, etc. The most exciting part is undoubtedly the presentation of innovative projects to the on-site judges, which is similar to the popular American TV show "Shark Tank": the jury will score the participating teams based on their performance and give immediate feedback, allowing everyone to Each team can understand its own strengths and areas for improvement in a timely manner.

These activities are very valuable. They are an innovative event and a platform for players to communicate and learn. All Conrad Finalists can participate and communicate face-to-face with our industry experts, entrepreneurs, investors, scholars and like-minded students from all over the world! Yes, this is an excellent opportunity to expand your horizons, make new friends, and learn about industry trends and cutting-edge technologies.

The winning team in the finals will receive valuable scholarships, patent support and other rewards!

These awards not only recognize their efforts, but also provide them with a solid foundation to further improve their innovative projects, establish companies or cooperate with top companies in the future.

Conrad 2024 global competition is fierce

After rigorous review, the nine winning teams in this year’s Conrad Global Finals finally stood out. They have demonstrated amazing strength and innovative spirit in the four major fields of aerospace, computer technology and security, energy and environment, health and nutrition , and successfully won the highest honors in each field.

All the outstanding contestants at the scene successfully won the recognition and applause of the judges and the audience with their unique innovative ideas and good teamwork skills! Their project works not only demonstrate high innovation and practicality, but also reflect the younger generation's vision and pursuit of future society.

The Conrad Challenge 2024 Winners

AEROSPACE & AVIATION-Winning Teams

• CONRAD SCHOLAR: LOTICE FROM CALIFORNIA, USA

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LotICE is a revolutionary innovation that aims to dramatically improve aviation safety by providing a solution for anti-icing of airplanes and, in turn, greatly enhancing aviation safety. Inspired by the unique elastic structure of the lotus leaf, researchers have designed LotICE - an aircraft shell material. It utilizes roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography to create a superhydrophobic surface. With this design, the waterproof performance of aircraft wings will be significantly improved, effectively preventing icing and thus extending the life of the aircraft.

•  POWER PITCH: LASAR FROM CZECH REPUBLIC

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Their innovative approach involves a precision laser system mounted on a robotic arm. The system can precisely direct a controlled beam of light to the satellite's solar panels, triggering a brief failure of the solar panels through a deliberate energy overload. Over time, a satellite's battery gradually discharges. Once a specific signal is received, the satellite initiates a software repair program that reboots the system, reactivates the solar panels, and continues charging the battery. This strategic power cycling approach is similar to how we charge electronic devices every day, while providing the satellite an opportunity to fix potential software glitches upon reboot.

CYBER-TECHNOLOGY & SECURITY-Winning Teams

• PETECONRAD SCHOLAR: THUNDER CORGIS FROM ALABAMA, USA

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Their innovation provides a breakthrough response to the limitations of traditional GPS. Unlike standard GPS, which relies on satellite connections, Inertial Positioning Systems (IPS) use inertia-based methods and accelerometers to calculate distance traveled, providing reliable position tracking without relying on satellites. By eliminating reliance on satellites and using inertial calculations, IPS increases the effectiveness of location tracking. It makes traveling in the wild easier and safer, providing a variety of solutions for hiking and off-grid exploration.

• PETE CONRAD SCHOLAR: RUNNING BITS FROM GUANGDONG, CHINA

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RescueBot is a fully automatic triangle alarm and life saver on the road. The latest self-driving technology can automatically travel a specified distance and warn other vehicles in the event of an accident.

• POWER PITCH: BIOMET FROM U.S.A. & INDIA

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FIXON is a drone that collects data to show potential wildfire risks. It looked at areas across the country known to be at high risk for wildfires. When a possible fire is detected, FIXON will send a signal to firefighters and release ultrasonic waves to warn local wildlife.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT-Winning Teams

• POWER PITCH: LASAR FROM CZECH REPUBLIC

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ReefSound is a disruptive innovation that uses artificial intelligence to analyze the health of coral reefs based on their recordings. Research shows that the sounds made by coral reefs are a good indicator of their health. Healthy coral reefs are home to predatory shrimp, which produce a distinctive popping sound that gives healthy reefs a "fried" sound. In contrast, degraded coral reefs are quieter because they harbor fewer organisms. ReefSound's core product is a collection of two AI models; users input minute-long recordings of corals, and the AI identifies them as healthy or degraded.

• POWER PITCH: LASAR FROM CZECH REPUBLIC

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FIXON is a drone that collects data to show potential wildfire risks. It looked at areas across the country known to be at high risk for wildfires. When a possible fire is detected, FIXON will send a signal to firefighters and release ultrasonic waves to warn local wildlife.

HEALTH & NUTRITION-Winning Teams

• PETE CONRAD SCHOLAR: SMARTSEAT FROM ILLINOIS, USA

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SmartSeat is an algorithm-based active variable stiffness cushion designed to combat poor sitting posture and prolonged pressure exposure and improve physical activity. For those at risk for sitting-related health complications such as low back pain, pressure sores, and even blood clots, SmartSeat offers an inexpensive, non-intrusive, and effective solution to relieve chronic stress exposure by actively moving pressure points Area. SmartSeat uses three components to achieve this: a dynamic pressure mapping system, comprehensive algorithms and innovative cushioning materials.

• POWER PITCH: BIOBIONICS FROM TEXAS, USA

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Their vision is to lead mobility today and the planet of the future through accessibility to environmentally friendly prosthetics. Using innovative filaments containing polylactic acid and natural fillers, they are leveraging 3D printing technology to create affordable prosthetics for the more than 100 million amputees worldwide. The prosthesis is biodegradable at the end of its life cycle, significantly reducing plastic waste compared with traditional devices.

 The Conrad Challenge-Special Awards

Each year, the Conrad Innovation Challenge rewards outstanding finalist teams with additional awards. This year is no exception!

• Innovative Teacher Award:
  JOEL SCHILDWACHTER, NONPAREIL INSTITUTE, TEXAS, USA
• Best Marketing and Digital Promotions:
  LASAR, GYMNAZIUM BRNO-BYSTRC, GYMNAZIUM ÚSTÍ NAD ORLICÍ, GYMNAZIUM PLZEŇ, GYMNAZIUM BLANSKO PO, CZECH REPUBLIC
• Glinsky Award - Best Tabletop at EXPO:
  PROSTHETIC PIONEER, SHANGHAI AMERICAN SCHOOL, VANKE BILINGUAL SCHOOL, SHANGHAI, CHINA USOLE, POOLESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, MARYLAND, USA
• Glinsky Award - Most Persuasive Team at EXPO:
  ANTLERARMOUR, SOUTH FAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL, PLUM HIGH SCHOOL, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
• EXPO Entrepreneurial Innovator Award:
  ASTERAID, THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, VIRGINIA, USA
• Donald James Citizenship Award:
  HEALTHY COMPANIONS, DIYARBAKIR BAHCESEHIR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL, TÜRKIYE
  AZMA GUARD, AGUSTINIAN SCHOOL OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL, PANAMA
• Alumni Leadership Council (ALC) Awards:
  VYOMIKA GANDHI, CO-LEADER OF THE ALC, WASHINGTON, D.C.
  MIA YANG, CO-LEADER OF THE ALC, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
• ALC Summit Engagement Awards:
  AZMA GUARD, AGUSTINIAN SCHOOL OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL, PANAMA

Conrad2024-What is the Conrad Innovation Challenge?

Image from：the Conrad Challenge2023-24

The Conrad Innovation Challenge is an internationally renowned competition that perfectly integrates "STEM" (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and "Business" education.
The competition's influence is so great that College Vine, an internationally authoritative career planning organization, selected it as one of the "three extracurricular activities that can best help middle school students improve their competitiveness in college applications." At the same time, it is also listed as one of the important reference conditions for selecting students by the top scientific research summer school MIT RSI.

The Conrad Innovation Challenge not only has strong support from authoritative organizations such as NASA, but has also been recognized by top summer schools, reflecting its unique value and far-reaching influence in the field of education.

Conrad’s story sharing

Pete Conrad: From walking on the moon to business innovation

"Whoopie! That may have been a small step for Neil, but it was a giant leap for me."

This was the sentiment left by Pete Conrad after he set foot on the moon. As the third astronaut to land on the moon in human history, he used his humorous and self-deprecating approach to add a touch of levity to that major and dangerous space adventure.

Although Pete did not become the first moonwalker, his space adventure was just beginning. After retirement, Mr. Conrad devoted himself to the commercialization process of space travel, hoping to introduce more innovative ideas into commercial practice.

To continue Conrad’s legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship, his wife, Nancy Conrad, created the Conrad Foundation, which gave birth to the Conrad Challenge .

After years of development, Conrad Innovation Challenge has become a globally renowned comprehensive challenge program for high school students. This project cleverly integrates the two major fields of "STEM" and "Business", and provides solutions to future social problems through the combination of engineering innovation works and commercial application plans.

At Conrad, students have the opportunity to work with like-minded peers, form teams, and explore any of the different areas of innovation together. This is not only a competition of knowledge and skills, but also an attempt to break through traditional thinking: students need to work together to complete creative business projects, which includes formulating detailed business plans, designing innovative products and services, and Solve challenging real-world problems.

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Students participating in the Conrad Innovation Challenge allow them to fully demonstrate their innovation capabilities, teamwork and business insights. Students who excel in the Conrad Innovation Challenge will undoubtedly add to their extracurricular resumes. The competition encourages students to use STEM knowledge to discover and solve specific problems in the real world. Through the proposing, display and speech of creative solutions, students can comprehensively exercise their interdisciplinary thinking, innovation ability and entrepreneurial spirit.

Integration of science, engineering and business-The value of the Conrad Innovation Challenge

Cultivate innovative talents with a business perspective

Participating in the Conrad Innovation Challenge is a valuable opportunity for students to comprehensively exercise and improve themselves.
This competition not only requires students to combine STEM knowledge for project incubation, but also to formulate detailed business plans, thereby achieving a close integration of science, engineering and business. Through participation, students will be able to practice hands-on practice, transform theoretical knowledge into practical applications, and deepen their understanding and application of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

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In addition, the competition emphasizes solving practical problems, which encourages students to identify specific problems from real life and apply the knowledge they have learned to find solutions. This process not only cultivates students' innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities, but also exercises their teamwork spirit and leadership.

Comprehensively improve students’ academic and business abilities

Through in-depth exchanges with well-known experts, entrepreneurs, and professors at home and abroad, students can also be exposed to cutting-edge scientific research results, broaden their international horizons, and lay a solid foundation for future academic and career development.
More importantly, the business portion of the Conrad Innovation Challenge requires students to develop and submit a business plan, which is a rare opportunity for students to practice business.

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Through business plan writing, students will learn how to conduct market research, cost analysis, financing planning and other key business skills. This not only enhances their business insights, but also lays a solid foundation for future entrepreneurship or business-related work.
Participating in the Conrad Innovation Challenge is a rare learning and growth opportunity for students, which will help students achieve comprehensive improvement in academic, business and personal abilities.