International student competition leverages digital twin technology to tackle infrastructure challenges.
Bentley Systems, an infrastructure engineering software provider, and Enactus, a global nonprofit focused on student innovation and entrepreneurship, have launched the 2025 iTwin4Good Challenge. The international competition invites university students to create digital twin solutions aimed at addressing current infrastructure-related issues, in response to ongoing workforce challenges in the sector.
This initiative comes at a pivotal time. In recent years, global infrastructure sectors have faced a critical workforce shortage, despite rising demand for better and more resilient infrastructure. For example, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Research Institute reports that 49 percent of engineering firms face project backlogs of one year or more, while the construction industry is short more than 400,000 workers, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors.
The iTwin4Good Challenge places students on a path to address workforce shortages by combining their passion for social and environmental impact with the power of digital technology. Through skills building and mentorship, the program brings together global talent to grow a new and diverse pipeline of future infrastructure leaders and solution developers. Students embark on a six-week program featuring technical training, mentorship from across Bentley, and the opportunity to get certified as an iTwin Developer Associate. Participants—competing solo or in teams of up to three—will use Bentley’s iTwin platform to create apps that could drive positive environmental or social impact in their communities.
Challenge overview
From June through October 2025, students from the U.S., Germany, Canada, the UK and Ireland (competing jointly), and Brazil will participate in national rounds. Top performers will present their solutions to a panel of industry experts, compete for cash prizes, and advance to a virtual “Champions of Champions” showdown, with the global winner earning the opportunity to attend the Enactus World Cup 2025 in Bangkok.
This hands-on experience develops industry-ready professionals who can apply digital twin technology to solve real-world challenges, bridging the gap between academic learning and impactful infrastructure innovation. For a look at the initiative in action, watch the 2024 iTwin4Good Championship final presentations from Kazakhstan.
For more information about Bentley Systems, visit bentley.com.
