500
Innovate with
DBS X GovTech X SUTD
About The Smart City Challenge
We want your creative ideas to re-imagine how digital technologies and data from the bank and government perspectives can help improve the lives of all Singaporeans, making our Smart Nation an even better one to live, work and play in.
What can you look forward to?
This innovation challenge, jointly organised by DBS, GovTech and SUTD, provides the opportunity for you to learn digital design techniques through learning labs and mentorship programmes, and apply these techniques in real world use cases. You will also be introduced to the various DBS and GovTech developer platforms, which you may leverage to develop your innovative solutions.
Get outside your comfort zone and ideate!
Teams with truly outstanding ideas will win up to $5,000 in cash, and be accepted into the first-ever DBS-GovTech joint internship programme.
Get started by registering your team (of 2 to 6 people) and share with us the problem statement you would like to address.
Jointly brought to you by:
For further enquiries, you may email us at entrepreneurship@sutd.com.sg
How to Register
Registration has been closed.
Participation in the Challenge is restricted to teams comprising solely of SUTD students. Each team may have up to 6 participants. Participants are required to provide their own equipment (e.g. laptop, etc).
In the event that there are significantly more participants than expected, DBS reserves the right to modify the rules of participation and/or select which teams will be able to participate in the Challenge. In such a situation, participants will be informed directly via email.
Challenge Details

Eligibility
Open to all current SUTD students from any faculty (2 to 6 in a team)
Award
Cash prizes up to $5000 and joint internship opportunities between both DBS and GovTech
Deliverables
Each team will be required to (i) build a prototype and (ii) make a final presentation of your design solution during the Pitching Session. The aim is to present the most interesting, creative and relevant design solution in response to the challenge theme.
Key Dates
Activity | Dates |
---|---|
Detailed Briefing Session + Workshops | 20 Feb, Friday (3pm- 5pm) |
Mentor Session 1 | 22 Feb, Friday (3pm- 5pm) |
Mentor Session 2 | 1 Mar, Friday (3pm- 5pm) |
Mentor Session 3 | 8 Mar, Friday (3pm- 5pm) |
Mentor Session 4 | 15 Mar, Friday (3pm- 5pm) |
Mentor Session 5 | 22 Mar, Friday (3pm – 5pm) |
Mentor Session 6 | 29 Mar, Friday (3pm – 5pm) |
Pitching Session | 5 Apr, Friday |
Judging Criteria
The winning team will be selected by DBS & GovTech representatives. Each team is given the opportunity to provide one brief presentation to the judges.
Criteria |
Details |
---|---|
|
Is the concept, product or service new |
![]() |
Does the concept, product or service fulfil all requirements of usability and handling. Does it fulfil a need or a function? Does it address the userʼs emotional needs? |
![]() |
Does the concept, product or service deliver a substantial or significant benefit? (E.g. Economic, Social) |
![]() |
Does the concept, product or service have a reasonable chance to be developed as a finished product or service within the next 5 years, from a technological and economical point of view? |
![]() |
Does the concept, product or service best harness the potential of the provided technology and service platforms? |
![]() |
Is the idea pitching done professionally? Are you able to grab the attention of the audience? How well did you manage to answer questions from the judges? |
Sample Problem Statements
1. Cyber Security
- How can we help citizens to identify if the Websites or SMS messages they received are genuine or fradulent?
- How can trust in digital world be enhanced (e.g., trusting a person you are transacting with online, addressing phishing, fraud, fake news etc)
- How might we improve cybersecurity awareness among citizens young and old?
2. Lifestyle and Mobile Transactions
- How can we engage the citizens more to using mobile banking in their daily transactions?
- How might technology improve lives of citizens who are chronically ill e.g. dementia, parkinsons and possibly immobile e.g. stroke patients?
- How might we help charity organisations (e.g., fund raising, getting volunteers) through the use of digital technology?
- How might technology bring communities together including the less tech savvy segments of the population?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Smart City Challenge?
This innovation challenge is jointly organised by DBS, GovTech and SUTD. We want your creative ideas to re-imagine how digital technologies and data from the bank and government perspectives can help improve the lives of all Singaporeans, making our Smart Nation an even better one to live, work and play in.
You will learn digital design techniques through learning labs and mentorship programmes, and apply these techniques in real world use cases. You will also be introduced to the various DBS and GovTech developer platforms, which you may leverage to develop your innovative solutions.
Are there any specific themes for the challenge?
There are no restrictions to the scope and area of interest that the team could pursue as long as the solution harnesses the potential of both the government and finance technology. We have included sample themes and challenge statements that the teams can take reference to.
What is the challenge format?
The challenge will last for 5 weeks inclusive of learning labs and mentorship programmes. Within your team of 2 to 6, you are required to ideate and develop a solution concept to address your problem statement. The challenge will end with a pitching session to a panel of judges. You are required to present your ideas with a minimum low fidelity prototype. Selected ideas will get the opportunity to further develop it through the joint internship programme.
What are the selection criteria for participation in the Challenge?
Open to all current SUTD students from any faculty (2 to 6 in a team). You must include a challenge statement that your team is interested to pursue.
What are the rewards for the this challenge?
Cash prizes up to $5000 and joint internship opportunities between both DBS and GovTech
Is it a must to decide on the problem statement upon registration?
Yes. You may provide a rough scope of what you are interested to pursue in your project, so that we can identify the suitable resources for the mentoring sessions. You can further refine the problem statement as you progress through your project.
That's great to hear. Anything you'd like to add?
We're sorry to hear that. How can we do better?