University students from the 10 ASEAN countries are invited to participate in this competition and showcase their talents, creativity, and passion for making a positive impact.

Working together as a team to analyze the problems of existing tools and to come up with new approaches, the teams will produce innovative technology – using AI and machine learning – that will compete against the technology/equipment of other teams.

Between April and November, the teams will develop prototypes that are capable of detecting and sending warnings about flash floods to vulnerable communities in the region. Flash floods can happen in the city, river or mountainous areas. Team representatives will travel on all-expense-paid trips to Vientiane, Lao PDR, to demonstrate their work.

Three winning teams will receive USD 5,000 each, and two runners-up will also be selected for USD 2,000 each. These winning teams will have an opportunity to present their ideas to leaders and policy-makers of the ASEAN countries, the private sector, and other dignitaries at an award ceremony. Before that a number of selected teams will have an opportunity to present their work at the 1^st GMS-MRC Sustainable Investment Forum and the 2^nd ASEAN-MRC Water Security Dialogue, all held in Vientiane in September 2024.

The overarching objectives of the competition are:

1. Inspire youth to develop home-grown, innovative, and creative solutions for detecting and sending warning information about flash floods to vulnerable communities, emphasizing the importance of thinking outside the box to create novel technologies that can effectively address the challenges posed by flash floods;
2. Prioritize solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also cost-effective, ensuring that the developed technology can be implemented in resource-constrained communities across ASEAN countries;
3. Foster the development of sustainable technologies that have minimal environmental impact and can withstand the varying conditions present in ASEAN countries, promoting long-term resilience and reliability; and,
4. Encourage solutions that can be scaled up to cover larger regions and adapted to different geographical and climatic conditions within the ASEAN countries, serving as a model to other regions.

• The competition is merit-based and open to all undergraduate and graduate students from ASEAN universities.
• Students need to form a team to join the competition. A team can consist of two members and above and ideally from the same university.
• At least one of the members must be female.
• Students may be from any faculty or field of study.

1. Competitors are to develop sensors that are capable of detecting and sending warnings about flash floods to vulnerable communities in the region. These sensors are normally installed within their own stations or placed outdoors. Competing teams need to design the equipment that is appropriate for its terrain, location, weather, and functions.
2. The sensors will be deployed at a real-world testing site and must be able to collect and send real-time data from the station/location to a server.
3. The sensors must be operable with solar power and/or battery.
4. Ideas from the Internet of Things (IoT) are encouraged.

• Competitors need to build and ensure their equipment works. A real-world test must be conducted and the results documented, before the equipment is deployed at the ASEAN-MRC’s selected site.
• Off-the-shelf or ready-made commercial technology cannot be purchased and modified; only electronic parts are allowed for assembly and construction. Teams will need to identify the cost and source of all individual parts and submit a total production costing.
• Teams will need to submit a design document with the schematic design of the sensors, which will include the cost of the equipment.

Teams will be required to update the MRC on the progress of their prototype development with short videos.

The prototype is judged against the following criteria:

1. Accuracy (25%):  The sensor shows evidence of consistent test results.
2. Durability (25%):  The sensor is designed in such a way that they can withstand harsh weather conditions.
3. Cost Effectiveness (25%): The sensor can be manufactured locally at an affordable cost.
4. Innovation (25%): The sensor is produced from a new and innovative concept, or further enhances existing sensor technologies.

To avoid any bias and increase transparency and confidence, members of the judging panel will not be from the ASEAN and MRC Secretariats. Rather, they are field experts nominated by the ASEAN-MRC Development Partners who are external people.

Winning teams will be announced and honoured at an award ceremony in the presence of the leadership of the ASEAN and MRC Secretariats and other dignitaries. This will take place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, in late 2024.  

Interested applicants or teams are invited to submit their application forms online by 31 May 2024. The application must include your team’s proposal for prototype development. This proposal, created using a PowerPoint Presentation, should address:

Your project concept or idea and why you believe it will succeed.

• The methodology outlining how your team plans to design, test, and implement the chosen prototype, including a time frame aligned with the competition schedule.

The Selection Committee will review your proposal and make a section.

Submit your application here.