Syntec Engineering - Future Engineering Award

What you get

Your team could win the Jury Prize: 2,500 EUR, which will be shared amongst all team members, as well as a promotional video for your project. The People’s Choice Award is worth 1,500 EUR, also includes a video, and is decided by a public online vote. If the projects are good enough, the jury may also award a People’s Favourite Prize worth 2,500 EUR. If you reach the final, your travel, meals and accommodation costs for the final days in Paris will be reimbursed. A team cannot win both the Jury Prize and the People’s Choice Award at the same time.

The award is a yearly innovation competition run by Syntec-Ingénierie, the French engineering industry federation, together with several French ministries. Each year has a theme. In 2026 it is "Horizon 2050": you design a concrete engineering project for the world of 2050, for example in energy, construction, mobility, health or infrastructure.

Eligibility

• Team: You must apply as a team of between 2 and 8 people. Individual applications are not accepted.
• Studies: You are enrolled as a student for the academic year 2025–2026, either on a full-time course or on a dual study programme (Alternance, where you divide your time between the university and a company).
• Field of study: At least one team member is studying a science or engineering subject related to engineering, such as industry and energy, civil engineering, infrastructure, geotechnical engineering or the environment.
• Where you study: This member is studying at an engineering college, a university or an IUT (a French university institute of technology).
• Mixed teams: Other team members can be studying any subject, such as business administration, design, architecture or the digital economy. Professionals from companies, start-ups or associations are also welcome to join.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Project: Your idea is a specific engineering project, not a purely conceptual or digital one.
• Language: Your project file must be written in French.
• Diversity: Mixed teams bringing together several disciplines are preferred. The judging panel will take gender balance into account.

How to apply

Please email a project file of no more than 5 pages to Syntec-Ingénierie by 30 June at 12:00. A jury will select the finalists, whose projects will then be put online for public voting. Each finalist team will then give a 20-minute presentation to a jury in Paris. At least 2 team members must be present in person.

Our guide Scholarships in France lists further funding options you can pursue alongside the Syntec-Ingénierie award.