Pitch for the Planet

The Carbon Zero Challenge’22 Grand Expo Day aims to facilitate researchers, early-stage startups, and innovators in presenting their ideas, problem statements, research work, and early-stage solutions in the field of circular economy challenges. This event provides a platform to showcase innovative approaches and contribute to the development of sustainable solutions. The following document provides detailed information about the areas of focus for the pitch and poster presentations, along with instructions for submission and the associated benefits for the winners

submission deadline – 22 July 2023

Venue: IIT Madras

Areas of Focus

Submission Process

If you have an idea, problem statement, research work, or early-stage start-up project in any of the aforementioned areas, please submit through the following link: 

Eligibility:

1. The competition is open to researchers, students and early-stage startups involved in projects focused on circularity in resource conservation.
2. Participants must be affiliated with a recognized research institution, university, or early-stage startup.

Submission Guidelines:

1. The submission should include a detailed abstract outlining the objectives, methodology, findings, and potential impact of your research work, early-stage start-up project, or problem statement.
2. If applicable, include supporting materials such as charts, graphs, diagrams, prototypes, or demos to enhance the understanding of your submission.
3. Clearly indicate the area of focus (e.g., Area 1: Circular Economy Challenges from the Renewable Energy Sector) in your submission.
4. The deadline for submission is 22nd  July 2023. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria:

Presentation Format:

Project Pitching:

Selected participants will be given a specific time slot to deliver a live pitch presentation during the Grand Expo Day. The pitch should concisely highlight the key aspects of the research work or early-stage start-up project, or problem statement, including objectives, methodology, findings, potential impact, and proof of concept (if applicable).

Submission Format:

1. Prepare a concise project pitch document that highlights the key aspects of your research or startup project.
2. The project pitch should include:
   • • Title of the project
     • Name(s) of the researcher(s) or startup team members
     • Affiliation(s)
     • Abstract summarizing the project (maximum 250 words)
     • Introduction and problem statement
     • Methodology or approach
     • Expected outcomes and impact
     • Key challenges and mitigation strategies
     • Brief timeline of the project
     • Contact information (email address and phone number)
3. The project pitch document should be in PDF format, with a maximum of 3 pages (excluding the title page).
4. Ensure that the document is well-structured, easy to read, and visually appealing.

Poster Presentations:

Selected Participants will also be required to prepare a poster summarizing their work. Guidelines for poster dimensions and content will be provided upon acceptance of submissions

Submission Format:

• Create a digital poster that visually represents your research or startup project.
• The poster should include:
  1. Title of the project
  2. Names of the researcher(s) or startup team members
  3. Affiliation(s)
  4. An abstract summarizing the project (maximum 500 words)
  5. Introduction and problem statement
  6. Methodology or approach
  7. Expected outcomes and impact
  8. Key challenges and mitigation strategies
  9. Key findings or preliminary results (if applicable)
  10. Contact information (email address and phone number)
• The poster should be in landscape orientation and saved as a high-resolution image file (e.g., JPEG or PNG).
• Ensure that the poster is visually appealing, well-organized, and easy to read.
• The project pitches and posters will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
  1. Originality and innovation
  2. Relevance to circularity in resource conservation
  3. Potential impact and scalability
  4. Clarity and coherence of the presentation
  5. Visual appeal and design

Benefits for Winners:

Direct Entry to the Second Round:
Winners with a valid proof of concept will receive a direct entry to the second round of the Carbon Zero Challenge 2023*.

Mentoring and Training:
Winners without a valid proof of concept will have the opportunity to participate in mentoring and training sessions to develop a valid proof of concept.

Networking Opportunities:
All participants will have the chance to connect with industry experts, potential investors, and like-minded individuals working towards a sustainable future.

Intellectual Property:

• By submitting a project pitch and poster, participants acknowledge that they retain the intellectual property rights to their projects.
•  However, participants grant the competition organizers the right to use and showcase their project pitches and posters for promotional and informational purposes.

*terms and conditions apply