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RISE Thesis
Pitch Challenge

SUBMISSION IS NOW CLOSED  |  Stay Tuned on this page and our SPRINT Robotics LinkedIn account for our announcement of our finalists

RISE Thesis Pitch Challenge

RISE – Robotics, Innovation, Student Excellence

Showcase your Research to Industry Leaders and Contribute to Innovation in Inspection and Maintenance Robotics.

Objective

The challenge provides university students with a unique platform to showcase their thesis research to industry leaders, fostering direct engagement between academia and the oil & gas, chemicals, and energy sectors. This competition focuses on robotics for inspection and maintenance, encouraging students to present innovative solutions that address key industry challenges such as asset integrity, safety, efficiency, and automation.

By participating, students have the opportunity to demonstrate the real-world relevance and potential impact of their research. The challenge bridges the gap between research and practical application, offering students valuable industry exposure, professional networking opportunities and expert feedback.

This initiative not only benefits students by refining their presentation skills and increasing career opportunities but also enables the industry to discover cutting-edge ideas, emerging talent and innovations that can drive efficiency and sustainability in robotics for inspection and maintenance.

1

Eligibility Criteria

  • Open to all students from colleges, universities, universities of applied sciences (hogescholen), and equivalent institutions worldwide, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students.

  • Research must address robotics or software solutions for activities related to inspection, maintenance, cleaning, or fabric maintenance in the oil & gas, chemicals, or energy sectors. This includes, but is not limited to:

    • Inspection: Techniques for detecting corrosion, cracks, leaks, or other structural issues in pipelines, storage tanks, pressure vessels, offshore platforms, or industrial equipment.

    • Maintenance: Automated or robotic solutions for predictive and preventive maintenance, repairs, or component replacement to extend the lifespan of critical infrastructure.

    • Cleaning: Innovative methods for removing dirt, debris, biofouling, or hazardous substances from industrial equipment, pipelines, or processing facilities.

    • Fabric Maintenance: Protective coatings, surface treatments, painting, or robotic systems designed to prevent or mitigate material degradation due to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals, or mechanical wear.

  • Submissions must be based on the student’s thesis research (ongoing or recently completed).

2

Submission Requirements

  • Thesis Summary: A concise document (e.g., max 2 pages) outlining the research, methodology, findings, and industry relevance.
 
  • Pitch Video: A 3-5 minute video explaining the research, its relevance, and potential impact.
 
  • Submission Format: All materials must be submitted as PDFs or MP4 files through the official challenge portal by the submission deadline: July 31, 2025.

3

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be assessed based on:

  • Innovation – Novelty and originality of the research.
  • Feasibility – Practical application and scalability in the industry.
  • Impact – Potential benefits for the oil & gas, chemicals, or energy sectors.
  • Presentation Quality – Clarity, structure, and presentation skills in the pitch video.

4

Selection, Jury & Finalist Process

  • A panel of industry professionals will judge the submissions and pick the top three theses. Finalists will be announced August 31, 2025.
 
  • RISE Thesis Pitch Challenge Jury Chair will be Trey Caylor, CTC Robotics Program Manager, Chevron
 

5

Conference Pitch Guidelines & Voting

  • Presentation Time: 5-7 minutes per finalist.
 
  • Presentation Date/Setting: during the Day 1 plenary session (21 October 2025) in the morning
 
  • Q&A Session: Each finalist will participate in a live Q&A with industry judges.
 
  • Voting will open after the plenary session.
 
  • Voting System:
 
    • 40% of the vote from SPRINT Robotics Participant companies
    • 40% of the vote from conference attendees
    • 20% of the vote from the RISE Thesis Pitch Challenge jury

6

Prizes & Winner Announcement

  • Finalists receive:
    • Industry exposure through networking and visibility.
    • Free Conference Pass including all coffee breaks, lunches and the Icebreaker Drinks.
    • Travel support: Up to €1500 for travel to and from Amsterdam and three hotel nights for one person.
 
  • Announcement: The winning thesis will be announced on Day 2 during the plenary session, as part of the SPRINT Robotics Awards, on Wednesday, 22 October 2025.
 
  • Winning Thesis: Recognized as the best research pitch in the competition.

Deadlines:

  • Thesis summary and presentation video must be submitted by July 31, 2025.
 
  • A panel of industry professionals will judge the submissions and pick the top three solutions. Finalists will be announced August 31, 2025.

7

Benefits for Participants & Industry

  • Students: Career opportunities, industry validation, and exposure.
  • Universities: Increased collaboration with industry and visibility for their research.
  • Industry: Access to innovative research and potential future talent.

How to Join?

STEP 1

Submit your thesis summary and presentation video before July 31, 2025

Submit your Thesis Pitch Entry

STEP 2

Stay tuned on our RISE Challenge Website and SPRINT Robotics LinkedIn page for more announcements as Finalists will be announced by August 31, 2025