Step On The Box

Challenges

Afriflora SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

How can Afriflora internally position, justify and structure the transition from diesel-powered energy systems to solar energy solutions in a way that is financially convincing, strategically aligned and organizationally feasible? The focus is not on engineering design, but on internal decision-making, stakeholder alignment and investment justification.


  • Students from backgrounds such as: ● Business Administration ● Finance ● Sustainability ● Supply Chain Management ● Operations Management ● Strategy ● Public Policy

  • Legmeerdijk 313, 1431 GB Aalsmeer, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 15 Apr 2026
Registration closed
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Bayer SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

Investigate how ICM has developed over time and make future projections considering current trends in agriculture. How can ICM become more practical and accessible for farmers?


  • Wageningse Afweg 31, 6702 PD Wageningen, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 23 Apr 2026
Deadline registration 17 Apr 2026
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DSV SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

How can DSV optimise the charging planning of its electric trucks to maximise driving time, minimise downtime, and reduce driver waiting time?


  • Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, Data

  • Hybrid
  • 23 Apr 2026
Registration closed
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Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

What does the ideal work of the future look like? And how do we support people through government policy if unemployment or illness occurs in that context? How do we keep the system workable and manageable?


  • All students who have an interest in this topic

  • Parnassusplein 5, 2511 VX Den Haag, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 14 Apr 2026
Registration closed
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Brightlands Startup Challenge

The Brightlands Startup Challenge empowers the innovative potential of students in the Limburg region. Home to a diverse array of educational institutions, Limburg boasts a rich talent pool across various sectors. The challenge connects these bright minds with a locally invested international partner network, fostering an ideal environment for entrepreneurship and innovation.


  • Students who desire to develop solutions to societal and entrepreneurial issues.

  • Onsite
  • 30 Apr 2026
Deadline registration 30 Apr 2026
Apply now

Dutch SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

Practical working experience for students who want to be challenged and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals!


  • All students who are studing in The Netherlands and have affinity with sustainability or who want to gain real-life working experience!

  • Hybrid
  • 23 Apr 2026
Registration closed
Apply now

Future of Housing

In what ways can ZOwonen - a housing association in the Westelijke Mijnstreek - develop new products or services? What opportunities do you see for a new business model for ZOwonen?


  • Enthusiastic students from all fields of study

  • Engelenkampstraat 25, 6131 JD Sittard, Netherlands, Onsite
  • 22 May 2026
Deadline registration 15 May 2026
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DUC Brabant

DUC Brabant brings together students, startups, educational institutions, and organizations to drive societal impact in the Brabant region.


  • Student teams with their own Start ups, and individual students who would like to work on the business cases of our partners.

  • Onsite
  • 28 May 2026
Deadline registration 21 May 2026
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Vion Food Group: From Manure to Value (DUC Brabant)

How can Vion Food Group turn manure from a disposal cost into a circular business opportunity? In this challenge, you will explore whether manure from slaughterhouse processes and supplier farms can be transformed into valuable products such as cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and liquid fertilizer. Your task is to investigate the business potential, financial feasibility, and environmental impact, including possible reductions in nitrogen emissions and CO2 footprint.


  • ambitious students who want to work on a real sustainability challenge with direct business impact and who are interested in circular economy, business modelling, innovation, or reducing environmental impact.

  • Sint Janssingel 92, 5211 DA 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, Onsite
  • 28 May 2026
Deadline registration 27 May 2026
Apply now

Brabant Water- The Invisible Water Killer (DUC Brabant)

This challenge is about reducing hidden water losses at festivals by using smart measurement, digitalisation and data driven control of pipe flushing water. The goal is to lower overall drinking water use while ensuring safety and legionella prevention.


  • We are looking for students interested in data, digitalisation, sustainability and innovation. This challenge fits students in data science, engineering, IT, environmental sciences and business innovation who enjoy solving real world problems.

  • Onsite
  • 28 May 2026
Deadline registration 27 May 2026
Apply now

SDG-Challenge Portugal Spring 2026


  • All students who are interested in making real-life change in the Alentejo region of Portugal.

  • Onsite
  • 20 Apr 2026
Registration closed
Apply now

DUC East

DUC East brings together students, startups, educational institutions, and organizations to drive societal impact in the eastern region of the Netherlands.


  • Student teams with their own Start ups, and individual students who would like to work on the business cases of our partners.

  • Onsite
  • 29 May 2026
Deadline registration 28 May 2026
Apply now

Completed Challenges

Help Anatech reduce the usage, temperature, energy consumption, and flow rate of cooling water

Anatech currently uses tap water to cool analytical instruments during internal testing, which leads to high water consumption and rising costs. A more sustainable and controlled cooling solution is needed without compromising test accuracy.


  • Enthusiastic students from all fields of study

  • Nieuwstadterweg 3, 6136 KN Sittard, Netherlands, Onsite
  • 9 Apr 2026
Registration closed
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Kiwa SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

Water Flow Map + Baseline on a Single A4 Create a simple visual map showing where water enters a location, where it is used, and where it flows out. In addition, provide an initial baseline based on 3–4 straightforward indicators, such as: - liters of water per day - main water‑using processes or equipment - cost per 1,000 liters - where possible: indirect water consumption (a rough estimate is sufficient) Top 3 Water Users & High‑Potential Quick Wins Identify the top three areas where the most water is used or wasted. For each area, describe: - what happens there - why it consumes a lot of water - which improvement actions are feasible - the potential savings in liters and euros


  • Enthusiastic students in; - Data analysis - Technical backgrounds (e.g. watermanagement) - Marketing/communication - Business/economics & business - Combination of students fluent in Dutch & English

  • Kuipersveld, Wilmersdorf 50, 7327 AC Apeldoorn, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 9 Apr 2026
Registration closed
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Help BNG Emissies te Compenseren

BNG wil netto nul CO₂ in 2050; Restemissies moeten gecompenseerd worden. Bedenk hoe BNG CO₂ kan compenseren in Nederland: mechanismen, stappenplan en kosten.


  • Studenten met een achtergrond in economie, data of duurzaamheid

  • Bordewijklaan 18, 2591 XR Den Haag, Netherlands, Onsite
  • 7 Apr 2026
Registration closed
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Twin Transition Challenge

The Twin Transition Challenge mobilizes students and businesses in South Africa to create digital solutions for a greener future. By tackling real-world challenges, participants explore how technology and innovation can drive both environmental impact and economic opportunity.


  • The Twin Transition Challenge is for ambitious 3rd-year Bachelor and Master’s students from top universities in Cape Town & Johannesburg who want to tackle real-world sustainability challenges from forward-thinking companies through digital innovation.

  • Upper Pepper Workspace, 14 Pepper St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa, Hybrid
  • 6 Apr 2026
Registration closed
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Help Vesteda understand biodiversity in their residential complexes

At Vesteda, we want to make biodiversity at our complexes transparent and improve it.


  • Students with a background or interest in biodiversity, ecology, biology, data science, BI, or real estate.

  • De Boelelaan 759, 1082 RR Amsterdam, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 31 Mar 2026
Registration closed
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HES International SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

How can HES Bulk Terminal Rotterdam, building on previous research, significantly reduce the energy consumption of its conveyor belt systems by applying the latest and most efficient technologies, and what would a feasible implementation plan look like in terms of costs, timeline, risks, and expected energy savings?


  • Urban planning, installation technique, data, operations, business

  • Missouriweg 25, 3199 LB Maasvlakte Rotterdam, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 31 Mar 2026
Registration closed
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KWS Infra (Royal Road Construction Stevin) SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

How can KWS (Royal Road Construction Stevin) set up a programme, within 6 to 12 months, in which 5–10 supply chain partners voluntarily share reliable ESG data (e.g. material and CO₂ data) without additional administrative burden, and how can the knowledge from this programme be shared across KWS?


  • Sustainability, data, logistics, supply chain management

  • Aziëhavenweg 21, 1046 BK Amsterdam, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 30 Mar 2026
Registration closed
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Waterschap Brabantse Delta SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

Develop a concrete and practical idea that helps Waterschap Brabantse Delta become a more diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation.


  • We aim for a diverse group, including a few Dutch-speaking students since all policy and communication are in Dutch. It would be great to add a practically oriented (MBO) student, for example from Sociology, HR, or water management/business studies.

  • Castle Bouvigne, Bouvignelaan 5, 4836 AA Breda, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 25 Mar 2026
Registration closed
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Zorggroep Oude en Nieuwe Land SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

(NL) Hoe stimuleren we beweging onder ouderen zonder inzet van medewerkers (maar met behulp van technologie)? (ENG) "How can we encourage physical activity amongst the elderly without deploying personnel (but by using technology)?"


  • Psychology, behavioural change, IT and AI, movement agog, fysiotherapist, social work

  • Revelsant 82, 8303 ZD Emmeloord, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 24 Mar 2026
Registration closed
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Invest-NL SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

How can we invest in “AI for good” while ensuring that AI solutions are developed and deployed in a responsible, fair, and trustworthy way?


  • Ambitious and enthusiastic students in the areas of data/AI, business/finance, or ethics/sustainability. Any students interested in influencing investment decision making for the future!

  • Kingsfordweg 43, 1043 GP Amsterdam, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 18 Mar 2026
Registration closed
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Province of Gelderland SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

How can the Province of Gelderland effectively motivate and enable internal teams and members of the provincial council to actively and structurally integrate climate adaptation into their daily work and policymaking?


  • We welcome multidisciplinary student teams with backgrounds in behavioural science/psychology, public administration, communication or design, climate studies, political science/IR, or research. Dutch speakers and students within travel distance of Arnhem are preferred.

  • Markt 11, 6811 CG Arnhem, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 17 Mar 2026
Registration closed
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iO Digital SDG-Challenge Spring 2026

How can we create a microlearning-based system that nudges employees to explore what other teams do — and makes cross-service-line learning something people actively engage in?


  • Coding, system integration, change management, anthropology, marketing, business

  • Boven Clarenburg 2, 3511 LC Utrecht, Netherlands, Hybrid
  • 12 Mar 2026
Registration closed
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