PDMA is the leading association championing best practices in new product management and development.  As such, we seek to ensure these methodologies are taught, learned, and practiced at the collegiate level so that graduates are effective contributors to product work teams upon entry in the workforce. Conversely, well-trained students provide a significant opportunity for organizations to inject the latest product development strategies into their workforce and improve their innovation culture. 

The richest academic environments are ones where the students can put theories and concepts into practice, and where students interact with practitioners from industry. The goal of the PDMA Student Innovation Challenge is to provide a platform, purpose and incentives to drive engagement and grow relationships between students, academia, and industry professionals.

All submissions must be original. 

Student teams will develop an original concept for a product, service, software, or a combination of the three, and develop a submission detailing the unique value proposition, evidence of demand, and mockup or embodiment of product. Designs for products, services or software of any type are welcome. Students are welcome to expand on the academic work for their theses or capstone projects as the basis of their entry.

Submissions should refine their product idea and create evidence of demand for their product. Finalist teams are invited to present their concepts, prototypes and mockups at PDMA’s Annual Summit & JPIM Research Forum. The presentation portion provides students the opportunity to showcase their product development skills in front of product directors, product managers, and product designers.

Student teams should be sure to review the judging rubric and ensure they have addressed all sections prior to submission.

All questions about submissions should be emailed to PDMAChallenge@pdma.org

Additional information available https://www.pdma.org/page/student-innovation-challenge