It is our pleasure to present to you the #SТЕ(А)МChallenge, with the aim to support and award the best ideas of Serbian high school students, with the intent to solve local problems by utilising SТЕ(А)М* disciplines, digital technologies and data. We believe that with digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain, robotics, etc. implemented in SТЕ(А)М fields, we may identify and offer different innovative solutions. Therefore, we invite you to invent them, and we will help the best ones become reality!  

The challenge is organised within the project “Building the critical computer skills for the future-ready workforce“, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Petlja Foundation, and with the support of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Who can apply?

School teams from accredited high schools in the Republic of Serbia, consisting of 2-5 students, and led by 1-2 teachers, can apply to the SТЕ(А)М Challenge. Both the students and the teachers can participate as members of different teams, but no more than 3 in total. Also, one team may include representatives of more than one school, i.e. the teams may consist of students from different high schools.

What is the challenge?

The challenge is to recognise a local problem in your local community – school, neighborhood, municipality or the city, and to think of a way to solve it together with your peers by looking for answers in digital technologies and SТЕ(А)М fields.

What will the process look like?

The challenge will be implemented in two competition rounds.

The challenge is open from 2^nd October until 3^rd November 2023, until 4 pm. You may apply by submitting the application form (available in Serbian only) to steamizazov.rs@undp.org. Also, students younger than 18 must submit the scanned consent for participation and processing of personal data form (available in Serbian only), signed by a parent or legal caregiver.  

In order to clarify the aim of the challenge to the interested teams and offer useful tools for the preparation of the proposals, we have prepared four info sessions, which are available on the UNDP Serbia YouTube channel (available in Serbian only). 

After the application deadline has expired, the committee will choose 5 to 10 best ideas that will receive targeted mentoring support in order to realise the ideas as digital solutions. The supported teams go to the finals where they will get the opportunity to pitch their solutions. The winning ideas from the first round will be publicly announced by 28^th November 2023.

The school teams selected by the committee, in line with the public call criteria, will receive six-weeks of support to develop their project ideas into final solutions. For more details about the selection criteria and support, refer to the STE(A)M Challenge Rulebook (available in Serbia only).

The finalists will present their solutions in person before the committee in the second half of February 2024, via pitch presentations, and the committee will subsequently select three winners.

And the most importantly – what are the awards?

For the three winning teams: Entrepreneurial tour in Belgrade – a one-day visit to the relevant actors in the startup ecosystem. 
For the students: Vouchers to the amount of 300 USD per team member, for buying technological equipment. 
For the teachers: Vouchers to the amount of 300 USD per team member, for buying technological equipment.

Do you have questions?

Write to us at steamizazov.rs@undp.org