Port63 Challenge

About Port63 Challenge

The Port63 Challenge is a testament to the transformative power of innovation challenges in providing students with a hands-on, immersive, learning experience. A proud flagship of NTU Innovation and Entrepreneurship, it goes beyond the conventional educational approach, allowing participants to apply their knowledge, gain fresh perspectives, and analyse real-world challenges. This unique initiative not only hones technical skills, but also nurtures young entrepreneurial talents by fostering their ability to design creative and impactful solutions to industry problems.

This year, we are back with more hands-on experiences to develop the technical and soft skills of our young innovators. In collaboration with our corporate partners and agencies across diverse sectors, we invite participants to address current industry and sectorial challenges under the themes of Web 3.0, Public Safety and Security, and Social Impact.

Start fresh on your I&E journey and leverage on this opportunity to fast-track your ideas.

For any enquiries - please email the organising team at [email protected]

2 to 5 members per team
Team shall not have a registered company for the proposed idea
Team must be led by an NTU affiliated member (student, staff or alumni)
Team members can include:
- Any NTU affiliated member (student, staff, and alumni)
- Current matriculated students (full-time or part-time) of Local Universities and Polytechnics
Team can attempt more than 1 challenge statement.

Local Universities and Polytechnics hereby includes:
National University of Singapore , Singapore Management University, Singapore Institute of Technology
Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Nanyang Polytechnic
Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic & Temasek Polytechnic

Cash prizes for each theme

First Prize: S$10,000
Second Prize: S$3,000
Third Prize: S$1,000

Other opportunities

• Up to S$1,000 in prototyping funds for each finalist team
• Dedicated mentorship provided by partners and industry experts
• Workshops and personalised consultation to refine your solution, prototype, and pitch
• Access to funding and resources to accelerate your idea
• Networking opportunities with key stakeholders of the I&E ecosystem
• Potential internship placements with partners and sponsors

Dates (2024/2025)	Milestones and Details
14 Aug, Wed	Start of Registration for the Call for interest
13 Sep, Fri	End of Registration for the Call for interest
14 Sep, Sat	Please note that the Kick-off Session originally on 14 Sep has been cancelled and will take place on 21 Sep.
21 Sep, Sat	Kick-off Session Venue: 63 Nanyang Drive, S636922 Innovation Port at The Arc – Learning Hub North (LHN), B1-01a (Location) Time: 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM (Lunch is not provided) Note: To be eligible to submit to the challenge, attendance at the session is mandatory for all teams. While we encourage full team participation, we require at least one team member to attend. Key Agenda Introduction to the Port63 Challenge Challenge briefings for all three themes by HackQuest (Web3) , Hatch (Public Safety and Security) & SG Enable(Social Impact) Design Sprint Workshop (Refer to Link for more information)
6 Oct, Sun	Submission of 1-page write-up (based on template provided)
14 Oct, Mon	Announcement of shortlisted teams
15 Oct – 30 Oct	Group Clinic Sessions and Workshops with Partners (more details to be shared with shortlisted teams) Speakers Bootcamp (Pitching and Presentation skillsets) Synopsis: Dive into interactive session led by seasoned entrepreneur and coach to craft compelling narratives, design effective pitch decks, and deliver persuasive stories with confidence. Instructor: Chua Ruo Mei, Chief Impact Officer & Global Pitch Coach (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruomeichua)
7 Nov, Thurs	Semi-Finals
Jan to Mar	1 to 1 Mentorship Sessions with Partners 1 to 1 Storytelling and Pitch Coaching Instructor: Chua Ruo Mei, Chief Impact Officer & Global Pitch Coach (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruomeichua)
14 Mar, Friday	Final Pitch Day!

*Subject to changes

Challenge Statements and Submission

S/N	Challenge Statement	Background
1	Build the foundation for a scalable and sustainable Web3 ecosystem. Develop an innovative infrastructure solutions\ that address scalability, security, and energy efficiency challenges in blockchain technology.	Building the Foundations of Web3 Web3 is a new paradigm for the internet that is built on decentralisation, transparency, and user ownership, and Infrastructure innovation has always been the backbone of web3. Despite significant progress in recent years, the current Web3 infrastructure still faces challenges in terms of transaction processing speed, energy consumption, and potential security vulnerabilities. This track seeks innovative solutions that can address these challenges and build a more robust and sustainable Web3 ecosystem. We're looking for solutions that includes but not limited to: (1) Scalable blockchain protocol that can improve transaction throughput without compromising decentralization. (2) Using zero-knowledge (ZK) technologies for securing smart contracts and mitigating fraud risks. (3) Infrastructure solution that minimizes the energy consumption of blockchain technology. (4) Web3 application that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to solve a specific industry problem or societal challenge.
2	How might we design a consumer-facing Web3 decentralised application that fosters community, engagement, and utility through gamification, social interaction, or novel tokenomics.	Reimagining DeFi and Consumer Applications DeFi and consumer applications are two of the most exciting areas of innovation in Web3. DeFi is the first validated use case for blockchain technologies, and it allows users to access a wide range of financial services without the need for intermediaries; consumer applications are extending the reach of Web3 by bringing its benefits to a wider and more mainstream audience. While innovation at the infrastructure and UX level of Web3 in recent years paved the way for significant strides in DeFi and consumer crypto, current solutions can still be complex and intimidating for everyday users and even institutions. We're looking for solutions includes but not limited to: (1) DeFi solutions that addresses a current limitation or unlocks a new use case for financial services. (2) SocialFi projects that combine social media features with blockchain technology to reward user engagement, content creation, or community participation. (3) GameFi projects that use blockchain technology to create a more immersive and rewarding user experience. (4) Decentralized applications (DApps) that use non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or attestations to create tokenised tickets or memberships.
3	How might we leverage on Web3 to develop DApps and/or platforms that can improve access, engagement, ownership, or monetisation to provide quality education.	Revolutionising Education with Web3 Unlike many industries, much of the educational landscape remains unchanged in decades despite the introduction of technology and tools. Traditional institutions often struggle to provide accessible and affordable education for all. The lack of ownership over personal educational data, credentials and learning resources can stifle innovation and diverse learning styles. Disrupting the education landscape with Web3 has the potential to unlock a future where education is accessible, verifiable, and tailored to individual needs. We're looking for solutions includes but not limited to: 1) Verifiable credentialing platforms that empower learners with ownership of their educational data and credentials. 2) Decentralised educational marketplaces where educators can directly connect and transact with learners with no processing or any hidden fees. 3) Gamified / immersive classroom experience that leverage IoT and AR/XR technologies.

S/N	Challenge Statement	Background
1	How might we leverage open data sources (such as social media trends, environmental factors etc.) to optimise patrol route planning for neighbourhood police officers.	Optimising patrol route planning for Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPCs) Patrolling is one of the core duties of police officers, aiming to prevent, deter and detect crime. Efficient or effective patrols would address crime patterns timely and enhance community safety. Patrol routes should be optimised and dynamic that adapt to real time data and predictive analytics to ensure maximum coverage of high-risk areas and provide officers with up-to-date information on crime trends and hotspots. This will therefore reduce time spent on route planning and more efficient use of resource.
2	How might we effectively combat concert ticket scams to ensure that the tickets bought by buyers are legitimate to provide a scam-free event experience in Singapore?	Concert ticket scams Concert ticket scams is a scam variant of high concern. Between 1 Jan 2024 and 12 March 2024, at 1,551 victims had fallen prey to e-commerce scams involving concert tickets, with total losses amounting to at least $737,000. (On website) Concert ticket scams involve two main modus operandi – Ticket non-delivery and sale of invalid ticket. The general MO is as follows: 1. Victims come across listings on various social media sites offering the sale of concert tickets and contact culprits directly via in-app messenger to purchase the tickets. a. In some cases, victims may be redirected to other communication channels such as Telegram, WeChat and WhatsApp. 2. Victims are told to transfer money to culprits to purchase tickets. 3. Upon victims making payments, culprits would a. [Ticket non-delivery] request for additional payments, delay the delivery of goods and/or become uncontactable; or b. [Sale of invalid ticket] provide invalid e-tickets to victims. Victims would realise they were scammed when tickets are found to be invalid on the event day or culprits refuse to provide physical tickets or proof of authenticity. There is no meet up between the scammer and the buyer.

S/N	Challenge Statement	Background
1	How might we effectively empower PwDs to unlock, develop and hone their unique talents to pursue their passions and goals?	Empowering PwDs Empowering Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) unlocks their abundant talent and creativity, enabling them to contribute unique perspectives and skills to society. Key avenues may include ensuring accessible education and skill development, fostering inclusive work environments, promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities, and driving cultural and attitudinal shifts towards disability inclusion.
2	How can we enable Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to live independently in the community? (physical, social and financial)	Enable Independency of PwDs Due to the increased life expectancy of individuals with disabilities, many caregivers are concerned about the future care needs of their recipients after they pass on. Preparation for this eventuality should begin early. In addition to considering existing adult services and care options, helping individuals with disabilities to remain within the community and live more independently could be one of the most sustainable options for future care planning, as it leverages the community as part of the support ecosystem.

Download the template of the statement your are attempting, modify your registration form, and submit by 6 Oct, Sunday 23:58hrs

Web 3	Public Safety and Security	Social Impact
Submission Template (Web 3)	Submission Template (Public Safety and Security)	Submission Template (Social Impact)

Criteria for shortlisting

All submissions must meet the participation criteria to be considered for shortlisting. The one-page submission will be evaluated based on the following: