iTwin4Good: How Students are using Bentley’s iTwin Platform to Shape a Sustainable Future
On Tuesday, 19th August, the finals of the iTwin4Good Challenge took place, showcasing the top student innovators as they pitched their iTwin-powered solutions. The purpose of this challenge was to develop impactful solutions to real-world problems using Bentley Systems’ iTwin platform. It was a fantastic display of the intersection of social entrepreneurship with technology and innovation.
Bentley System’s iTwin platform is built to map salvageable materials from demolition sites on a digital platform. The purpose of this platform is to provide users with 3D interactive models of buildings which allow them to inspects components, see specifications and asses reusable potential and environmental impact. To enhance the platform’s usage, users are able to filter upcoming projects by materials and location.
This challenge has been running for the past three years in partnership with Bentley Systems. In just our first year, we kicked off with 30 participants- this year’s challenge hosted more than 500 participants. What’s more, this year’s participants got six weeks of technical training and mentorship access from Bentley, also giving them the chance to get certified as an iTwin Developer Associate. We want to congratulate this year’s winner, SiTESalvage: The team from UK & Ireland developed a twin-powered platform and marketplace that helped divert demolition materials from landfills. SiTESalvage proposes a solution that enables stakeholders to repurpose material more efficiently, thus minimizing environmental impact. Building on this project, the SiTESalvage team will be attending the Enactus World Cup 2025 in Bangkok this September!
We also want to give a massive shoutout to the runner-ups from Germany and Canada, who put on an amazing display of responsible entrepreneurship and creative use of technology to tackle environmental challenges. Basola, from Germany, addressed plastic pollution by developing a solar-powered pyrolysis reactor that turns waste plastic into usable fuel. Using iTwin technology, they created a solution that not only transforms waste but also monitors the reactor’s performance to ensure safe operation. EcoTwins, from Canada, focused on repurposing abandoned gold mine sites for renewable energy projects. Their solution used digital tools to assess the potential for solar and wind energy, while also considering environmental and community impacts.
The iTwin4Good challenge accurately represents our mission to empower young individuals to use innovation and social entrepreneurship for a more sustainable future. A big thank you to Bentley Systems for the support for these last three years, this challenge presents students with a one in a lifetime opportunity to apply their skills and generate real impact. And of course, a big shoutout to all the students who took part you continue to inspire us with our vision to cultivate the next generation of responsible leaders.
