Areas of Interest

The Convergence Innovation Competition (CIC) is focused on innovation across the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (i.e. a project that combines the focus on health and well-being which includes addressing issues of environmental justice, poverty, equity and/or accessibility).

As teams consider their project's goals, we encourage review of each of the areas of interest to spark ideas. Think creatively about the ways in which the team can tie together multiple areas into a seamless innovation project. 

United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals

The seventeen goals for sustainable development propelled by the United Nations represent broad areas to improve life for individuals across the world. As global citizens, keenly interested in elevating the world around us, projects that focus on one or more of the UN's sustainable development goals are ideal.

  1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
  2. Zero Hunger
  3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
  4. Quality education
  5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
  6. Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
  7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
  8. Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
  9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainabile industrialization and foster innovation
  10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
  11. Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
  15. Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
  16. Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
  17. Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

 

Judging Criteria

What's expected in a project?

  • Everything that's required in order to submit. See submission requirements here.
  • A working end-to-end prototype to demo your project to the judges and guests.
  • A strong value proposition that shows the viability of your work - consider including a Value Proposition Canvas.
  • A robust user experience and a well-designed user interface.

Detailed Judging Criteria

The following criteria are considered by the judges when reviewing all competition entries:

  • Presentation - The overall quality of the submission materials, including the user interface, video, logo, etc.
  • Innovation - Includes the overall novelty of the concept and prototype implementation.
  • Impact - What social impact or broader good does the project provide? How does the project align with the Georgia Tech Strategic Plan and/or the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals?
  • Viability - Does the product/solution applicable to the real world? How feasible is it? How scalable?
  • Completeness - Will the product/solution work on multiple platforms seamlessly? What are the next steps for the project?
  • Usability - Does the concept have a robust user experience including the user interface and service interactivity?

Resources

Georgia Tech Strategic Plan

In alignment with Georgia Tech's strategic plan focus area and the Institute's mission statement, the CIC provides a space to "champion innovation" for "leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition".

The strategic plan focus areas are:

IPaT Strategic Research Areas

CIC is produced by the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) and GT-RNOC. IPaT's strategic research areas are Global Health Equity and Wellbeing; Responsible and Ethical Technologies; Arts, Expression, and Creative Technologies; and Just, Resilient, and Informed Communities. Possible solutions within each area are listed below.

  • Global Health Equity and Wellbeing
    • Possible Solutions:
      • Connecting clients with mental health specialists
      • Improving outcomes through medication adherence and reconciliation
      • Tools for improving access to care and reduction of consumer costs
      • Integrating personal wellness with healthcare goals and delivery
      • Health and wellness education and personalized assistance
      • Tools for independent providers and communities to address healthcare disparities and viability
  • Responsible and Ethical Technologies
    • Possible solutions:
      • Cultivating social connections through interests
      • Content production for artists
      • Preventing performer injury
      • Tools that enhance the fan experience
      • Managing team schedules
      • Esports and gaming production
  • Arts, Expression, and Creative Technologies
    • Possible approaches:
      • AI
      • Mixed reality
      • Wearable technology and sensors
      • Robotics and Automation
      • Resilient architectures
  • Just, Resilient, and Informed Communities
    • Possible solutions:
      • Understanding the contributions to your carbon footprint
      • Transitioning and drawing down carbon footprint for individuals, communities, or businesses
      • Monitoring the impact of climate change (i.e. extreme weather, sea level rise)
      • Improving resiliency in agriculture
      • Reducing the effects of urban heat islands

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