About the Challenge

What is the Mayor's Innovation Challenge?

Kingston is committed to promoting creative ideas and incorporating innovative solutions as we work toward our vision of becoming a smart, livable and leading city. As part of the Mayor’s Innovation Challenge, we’re calling on individuals or teams of students from Kingston's major post-secondary institutions to develop innovative proposals that contribute to making Kingston a better place to live, work and play.

The City, in partnership with Queen's University, St. Lawrence College and Royal Military College, has the honour of continuing to host this collaborative platform and experiential learning opportunity for its seventh year. 

For the last six years, the City has hosted the successful Mayor’s Innovation Challenge Pitch Competition (the “Pitch Competition”). Students are invited to develop a two-to-three-minute video proposal that presents an innovative project contributes to the quality of life of residents, or a proposal that leverages emerging technologies or develops new innovations to enhance the delivery of municipal services.

The creators of the top submissions, selected by the Mayor and senior staff, will be invited to present their proposals at the Pitch Competition on Friday, March 8, 2024, to a panel of leaders with expertise in municipal government, entrepreneurship and innovation. 

The challenge consists of two separate challenge streams, each with a coveted prize. Current and recently graduated post-secondary students are eligible to submit proposals to address one of two challenges outlined below. The prizes for each stream are as follows:

Dunin-Deshpande Smart Kingston Stream

Winners of the Dunin-Deshpande Seed Funding Prize will receive $5,000 in seed funding to further their project–unlocked in phases as they make progress on their venture–and admission to QYourVenture, a virtual part-time program from April to November that guides participants' entrepreneurial journey through training and phase-based milestones. 

Seed funding will be accessed on a reimbursement basis for eligible project expenses. The seed funding prize will be unlocked as participants enter each phase of the program: 

1. Explore phase – an initial $1,000 unlocked 
2. Ignite phase – $2,000 unlocked 
3. Launch phase - $2,000 unlocked

Read more about the individual phases at QYourVenture.

Public Sector Innovation Stream

Winners from of the Public Sector Innovation Stream will receive a four-month paid internship with a City of Kingston department. The winning team will gain access to a full slate of resources and mentorship from staff. They will also be exposed to a variety of projects underway at the City and will have the opportunity to build skills and gain invaluable government experience applicable in any career.

Why should I participate?

The Mayor's Innovation Challenge provides a unique opportunity for you, as a current or recently graduated post-secondary student, to apply your knowledge to real-world issues and help shape the future of Kingston. The winning team members gain an invaluable opportunity to launch their careers by tackling an issue they're passionate about while working alongside municipal and academic leaders.

How do I participate?

Teams may have a maximum of three students, at least 50 percent of whom are currently enrolled in one of Kingston's post-secondary institutions. Teams will submit a two-to-three-minute video outlining their innovative idea in one of the challenge categories. Proposals from all academic disciplines are welcome and multi-disciplinary proposals are encouraged.  

Want to learn more about the competition and what it takes to submit your proposal? 

Register for an information session:

• Thursday, Jan. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Event Commons, Mitchell Hall, Queen’s University 
• Tuesday, Jan. 30, 3-5 p.m. – Innovation Hub, St. Lawrence College 

Or email mic@CityofKingston.ca to schedule a consultation. 

Continue reading about the Mayor's Innovation Challenge and learn more about submitting a proposal.

Timelines

What are the timelines for the challenge? 

• Proposal submissions: submit a proposal by Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. 
• Invitation to the Competition: shortlisted teams are notified by Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. 
• Pitch Competition: student pitch competition Friday, March 8, 2024, at 9 a.m. 

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