In the Junior Design Category, Competitors will be given a real-world problem and must work within limiting time and budget constraints to design, create, and test a physical prototype of their proposed solution. As the competitors are just beginning their engineering studies, concepts will be based off a general level of engineering knowledge, such as forces, mechanics, etc.

In the Senior Design Category, Competitors will be given a real-world problem and must work within limiting time and budget constraints to design, create, and test a physical prototype of their proposed solution. As the competitors are near the completion of their engineering studies, concepts they may need in their design can span a variety of disciplines.

In the Innovative Design Category, you will combine your creativity and knowledge to develop new technological designs or improve upon existing ones. The research and ideas developed are done outside of the competition, which you’ll present a high-quality display to the judges. Your professional presentation should demonstrate the technical, social, environmental, and economic impact of your design.

In the Engineering Consulting Category, you will design a detailed solution to a large-scale engineering problem. The proposal must be made in a way that promotes the solution to the client. Competitors must demonstrate technical knowledge and skills, and evaluate the economic, environmental, political, and social implications of their proposed solutions in order to best address the requirements of the customer.

In the Parliamentary Debate Category, you will defend or refute a previously undisclosed resolution using the format of parliamentary debate. Subjects for debate will relate to the fields of engineering and science, or those that is within relation or interest pertaining to engineers and engineering students. You preferably have a broad knowledge of engineering concepts and their impact on society, and have an ability to rationalize decisions quickly and concisely.

In the Re-Engineering Category, you will be encouraged to use creativity and innovation in order to redesign an existing product or process either to improve its functionality or to adapt it for a completely new purpose. You will be judged based on functionality, practicality, feasibility, and marketability.

In the Programming Category, you will be challenged to make an industry-quality software to solve a given problem. The software will be presented to the judges for evaluation.

In the Engineering Communication Category, explain an applicable process or issue of your choice, and form a coherent argument that clearly identifies its social, economical, technological, and environmental impacts. Your explanation should be aimed at catering to an audience of various technological backgrounds.