Dassault Systèmes Launches 16th AAKRUTI Innovation Competition 2026

Engineering talent is the foundation of every digital transformation, yet most students struggle to access industry-grade design tools and real-world problem-solving experience.

The shortage of work-ready engineers is a recurring concern for enterprises, ISVs and procurement leaders evaluating future hiring pipelines. Dassault Systèmes addresses this gap by giving students a global stage to build, prototype and validate ideas with the same tools used in industry. The 16th edition of the AAKRUTI Innovation Competition opens with broader themes, larger rewards and a stronger certification component.

What was announced

On June 17, 2026, Dassault Systèmes announced the 16th edition of AAKRUTI 2026-27, its flagship design and innovation competition for students worldwide. The new edition focuses on four themes aligned with global priorities: robotics, local community problems, healthcare innovation and mobility. Participants will use the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and SOLIDWORKS applications to build their projects.

The competition offers a total of $20,000 in cash prizes plus SOLIDWORKS licenses for the winners. All participants get access to SOLIDWORKS licenses, CSWA and CSWP certification opportunities and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The journey culminates in the Global Finale at 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027 in Nashville.

AAKRUTI started with a simple belief that students everywhere have incredible ideas if we give them the right platform, tools and encouragement. From a small initiative to a global movement across 37-plus countries, AAKRUTI has become a place where students turn ideas into solutions that can truly make a difference

Why this matters

For CIOs, engineering directors and HR procurement leaders, AAKRUTI is a structured channel into a vetted global pool of design and engineering talent. Since inception, the program has engaged more than 75,000 students from over 1,000 institutes in 37 countries. According to recent survey insights, 500 alumni and winners now work across leading global organizations, confirming the program's industry relevance.

The certification component is equally relevant for partners and integrators. In the previous edition, over 2,000 certifications were awarded, representing close to $396,000 in upskilling value. Dassault Systèmes invests close to $1 million annually in certifications, licenses and prizes through AAKRUTI.

Technical details

• Edition: 16th AAKRUTI Innovation Competition, 2026-27 cycle.
• Themes: robotics, local community problems, healthcare innovation, mobility.
• Platforms: 3DEXPERIENCE platform and SOLIDWORKS applications.
• Prizes: $20,000 total cash plus SOLIDWORKS licenses.
• Certifications: CSWA and CSWP available to participants.
• Reach: 75,000+ students, 1,000+ institutes, 37+ countries since inception.
• Global Finale: 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027 in Nashville.

Softprom and Dassault Systèmes

Softprom is the official distributor of Dassault Systèmes. We help universities, training centers and enterprises adopt SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for engineering, design and digital manufacturing scenarios.

This content was prepared as part of the Softprom DistriFlow project — an automated system for monitoring and adapting vendor news. Original source: original article.